Colorado’s primaries present the next test for the Democratic establishment

2026 ElectionColorado’s primaries present the next test for the Democratic establishmentVeteran Democrats running for Senate, governor and House are facing another round of insurgent challengers Tuesday. Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., faces a primary challenge from the left Tuesday. Anna Moneymaker / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 30, 2026, 5:00 AM EDTBy Ben Kamisar, Annelise Hanson, Adam Edelman and Bridget BowmanTuesday’s primaries in Colorado mark the next front in the establishment-versus-insurgent battle playing out within the Democratic Party, one week after major victories for candidates in New York City backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.Colorado’s Democratic primaries have flown more under the radar, but they feature three major contests where veteran Democrats are facing challengers who are aiming to capitalize on the party’s growing anti-Washington sentiment. Here’s what to watch for Tuesday night as the votes come in. Polls close at 9 p.m. ET.Entrenched Colorado Democrats face primary hurdlesThe Democratic primary in Colorado’s 1st District represents the next best chance for the progressive wing of the party to pick up another win over an entrenched incumbent. Rep. Diana DeGette, who has served in Congress for almost 30 years, is now fighting for political survival. She has sought to burnish her progressive credentials, with one recent ad touting her role as an impeachment manager during President Donald Trump’s Senate trial after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, while also emphasizing her support for “Medicare for All” and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Melot Kiros, a 29-year-old doctoral student and former lawyer who immigrated from Ethiopia as a child, has argued that the 68-year-old incumbent isn’t adequately fighting for the district. She is backed by key politici...