A Colorado primary defeat highlights a dangerous political environment for Democratic incumbents

Splits among local voters are showing up more frequently, suggesting something more systemic brewing inside the national Democratic Party.

Another member of Congress fell in a primary Tuesday night, as 30-year Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette lost to democratic socialist Melat Kiros, 29, in Denver. But as shocked as national Democrats might be by this and other recent losses, a deeper look at the 2026 primary results might paint an even more dangerous picture for the party’s entrenched incumbents.

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