Photos and Story by Giles Clasen

Melat Kiros launched her campaign Thursday night to challenge longtime U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District Democratic Primary next year.

At the heart of her campaign is a belief that housing, healthcare, food, and education are basic rights that should be guaranteed for all.

"There are things that you deserve as an American working hard in this country and trying to make a living. You deserve basic human rights like Medicare for all, you deserve health insurance, you deserve nutritional food and access to affordable housing, and you deserve free and quality public education," Kiros told the Denver VOICE.

Kiros said she doesn’t believe laws that create affordable housing, food, and health care are socialism, but instead are good policy.

Kiros, a former attorney and current PhD student at the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs, is running on a progressive platform focused on removing money from politics, codifying basic rights, and increasing the visibility and accountability of elected leaders.

“I think this is such a critical period of time right now, where we're seeing too little resistance against the Trump administration from Democrats. I think people are just itching for new leadership,” Kiros said.

Kiros’ campaign launch took place at Green Spaces in Denver last night, where Dr. Lisa Calderón, a community activist and former mayoral candidate, endorsed Kiros.

“Melat Kiros is the bold, unapologetic, and courageous leader Denver deserves,” Calderón. “She’s not beholden to the political establishment. She’s rooted in our communities... She represents the urgency, energy, and vision we need in Congress, and that’s why I’m proud to endorse her.”

Corporate influence and money in politics are central to Kiros' campaign. She said financial contributions from the ultra-wealthy and corporations have too much influence on elections. That imbalance, she said, is the root cause of legislative inaction and public distrust.

“Melat Kiros is the bold, unapologetic, and courageous leader Denver deserves,”said Lisa Calderón. “She’s not beholden to the political establishment. She’s rooted in our communities... She represents the urgency, energy, and vision we need in Congress, and that’s why I’m proud to endorse her.”

“Polls show that nearly 90% percent of Americans want a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United,” Kiros said about the landmark Supreme Court decision that allows for unlimited political spending by corporations and special interest groups.

Kiros, who is not accepting corporate or Political Action Committee money, believes these changes are necessary to rebuild faith in government and pass legislation that directly benefits working people.

“We have to start somewhere,” Kiros said. “I think limiting money's influence in elections can really have the most lasting and powerful impact for the people.”

Kiros immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia as an infant through the visa lottery. She said her experience shapes her values and priorities.

Kiros said she respects DeGette’s work, especially on reproductive justice, but believes a representative spending 30 years in Congress is too long.

“The reality is that the longer that you are in Congress, the more out of touch you become with the district that you are in,” she said.

Skyler Rose, a voter who once experienced homelessness and now lives in permanent supportive housing, said they attended Kiros’ campaign kick-off because they are ready for a change.

“I think it's time to get some fresh blood in office. [Rep. DeGette] has been in office longer than I've been alive. I'm 25 years old. I think that's a very long time to be in office, and we just need some new ideas. Some fresh energy.”

Calderón added during the event that Denver has changed significantly since 1997 in ways that have strained affordability and displaced working-class families.

“Congress needs to change, too,” Calderón said. “Let's also be clear, this campaign isn't about age. It's about taking on the establishment; the Democratic Party wants to keep the status quo. They want to keep the Schumers, the Pelosis, the Hickenloopers, and out-of-touch millionaires in power forever. It's not about age, it's about entitlement. Politicians aren't entitled to a seat for life.”

Kiros said she understands how difficult it is to make it in a rapidly changing Denver.

“As someone who's working as a barista to pay for school and healthcare, I know what it's like to work so hard to get ahead while Washington is so behind. I'll fight for a more affordable, safer city. “

Kiros said issues like Medicare for All, housing, and free public college already have broad support, but entrenched interests block impactful legislation.

"The reason why I specifically focus on these issues is because I know that they will make a positive impact on every single ordinary working American," Kiros said. "When you deliver on policies that protect and lift people, they become entrenched because the political will to change them will not be there."

But Kiros fears progressive policies won't be passed unless new voices are elected to Congress.

“I think Democrats across the board agree that even when we get back that power, there's not a lot of hope that there will be meaningful change,” Kiros said. “And so, I think the reason why I'm running right now is because there is that momentum that's happening.”

She believes delivering real results is the key to lasting policy and political stability.

“What I think we can accomplish by codifying rights legislatively is do something that Democrats haven't done in a very long time, and that's actually deliver for the American people,” she said. “We did it with Obamacare, and it has become such an entrenched piece of policy that all we can do now is make it better.”

According to Kiros, Denver needs a congressional voice that is active and leading in the community.

“I want to and intend to spend most of my time, as much time as I can, here, actually in the district and talking to people about what we're doing,” she said. “Whether that's with town halls or just making sure I'm frequenting different community events and community meetings.”

Kiros said that while DeGette votes progressively, that is not enough at this moment.

Melat Kiros launches progressive challenge to Rep. Diana DeGette

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