The Democratic congressional candidate from Colorado, Melat Kiros, rejected criticisms regarding the presence of communists within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and questioned Republicans for using those ties to attack the growth of the socialist left within the Democratic Party.
During an interview, Kiros was asked about the criticisms directed at DSA, particularly regarding the fact that approximately half of the members of its main governing body, the National Political Committee, identify as communists.
''Some members of the Democratic Party proudly proclaim themselves capitalists, and it is a broad party,'' Kiros responded. The candidate maintained that as long as an avowed communist does not win an election, Republican warnings about the influence of that ideology represent only ''political noise.''
Democratic candidate Melat Kiros downplayed the presence of communists in the Democratic Socialists of America and endorsed their leftist agenda
The interviewer directly asked her if she was a communist, to which Kiros replied: ''No, I am not a communist.'' However, she openly defended socialism and stated that this system has proven to uphold the values of the Declaration of Independence better than capitalism.
Kiros also argued that the criticisms against DSA reflect the ''fear'' of Republicans and the economic sectors that support them in light of the growth of a message of ''economic populism'' among voters.
The 29-year-old candidate reached the general elections after defeating Diana DeGette, a representative with 15 terms in Congress, in the Democratic primaries for Colorado's first district, a strongly Democratic constituency. Her victory made her the 28th candidate backed by leftist groups to win a Democratic primary during this electoral cycle.
Kiros defeated the Democratic candidate Diana DeGette, who has an extensive background in Congress
The DSA agenda that Kiros partially defends
The controversy centers on the differences between the proposals that Kiros claims to support and the broader agenda promoted by DSA.
The organization recently launched its ''Workers Deserve More'' program, which includes proposals such as abolishing the Senate, replacing the president and the Supreme Court with institutions whose members are selected by Congress, granting a general amnesty to illegal immigrants, and defunding the Department of War.
Kiros argued that DSA members do not necessarily support each of the proposals included in the organization's platform. During the interview, she confirmed that she supports initiatives like ''Medicare For All'', universal childcare, and a 32-hour workweek.
The socialist Democratic candidate has defended disastrous proposals such as the 32-hour workweek and "Medicare For All"
At the same time, she asserted that she does not support some of DSA's more controversial positions, including abolishing the Senate, withdrawing the United States from NATO, and defunding the police.
The distance between these positions highlights Kiros's difficulty in explaining her relationship with a movement that is increasingly influential within the Democratic Party, but maintains proposals that could be unpopular among moderate voters.
The influence of the socialist left is growing
Kiros's victory is part of a rising trend within the Democratic Party. Figures backed by DSA, such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and congressional candidate from New York Darializa Avila Chevalier, have gained prominence after winning primary elections.
If the victories of candidates backed by these groups materialize in November, the 28 new candidates who have already won primaries could join 18 progressive congress members in office and form a bloc of approximately 43 members in the House of Representatives.
However, the electoral growth of DSA does not necessarily translate into national acceptance. A survey conducted in July showed that 56% of registered voters have an unfavorable opinion of DSA, compared to 31% who hold a favorable opinion. Among Democrats, however, 59% have a favorable opinion and 26% a negative one.
The communist Zohran Mamdani has been the DSA representative who has garnered the most attention recently
Questions about her positions on Israel
Kiros also faces criticism in Colorado for her statements about Israel. Jewish leaders in Denver have expressed concern about her rhetoric, particularly regarding her initial refusal to label the 2025 incendiary attack in Boulder as anti-Semitic.
She has also accused Israel of committing genocide and apartheid, positions that have generated rejection among leaders of the local Jewish community.
Kiros's rise thus reflects the internal dispute within the Democratic Party: while a new generation of candidates seeks to expand the influence of socialism and economic populism, critical sectors warn about the radicalization of the party's agenda.
The candidate attempted to differentiate herself from some of DSA's more extreme positions, but her defense of socialism and her refusal to condemn the presence of communists within the organization could become a focal point for Republican attacks during the campaign for the November elections.
The socialist candidate from Colorado has been strongly criticized by the Jewish community in the state for her stance on recent antisemitic attacks
