Melat Kiros Becomes First Gen Z Woman in Congress

Democratic socialist Melat Kiros won the election to represent Colorado's 1st Congressional District, becoming the first Generation Z woman elected to the U.S. Congress. A 29-year-old Ethiopian immigrant, lawyer, and public policy doctoral student, Kiros secured the seat after defeating 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary. By election night, Kiros held 78.32% of the vote with 71.1% of ballots counted.

Kiros campaigned on a platform of expanding the social safety net through Medicare for All and universal childcare, while advocating for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the termination of U.S. military aid to Israel. She refused funding from corporate PACs and pro-Israel groups, contrasting her approach with DeGette, who accepted donations from the pharmaceutical, energy, and defense industries. Her political rise followed a 2023 termination from a New York law firm after she questioned the legitimacy of the Israeli government.

Her victory contributed to a broader surge for the Democratic Socialists of America, which saw at least five endorsed candidates win House seats. During the campaign, independent candidate Shimon Blau accused Kiros of using antisemitic rhetoric, a claim she denied. While Kiros expressed a willingness to collaborate with fellow Democrats, she declined to commit her support to Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House. She is scheduled to be sworn in on January 3, 2027.