Denver Jews Fear Rising Antisemitism After Socialist Wins Congressional Primary

The election of Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros in Colorado’s 1st District has sparked safety concerns among Denver’s Jewish community, who say her rhetoric could incite antisemitic hostility.

Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Democratic Socialist, defeated 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, prompting celebration from progressive groups and alarm among Denver’s Jewish leaders. They cite Kiros’s past remarks describing the Oct. 7 attacks as “inevitable,” her refusal to call a Boulder firebombing antisemitic, and accusations that Israel’s actions fuel antisemitism. Rabbi Menachem Lehrfield said he now feels threatened simply for wearing a yarmulke, recounting an incident where a passerby shouted “dirty Jew.”

The community recalls the 2025 killing of Karen Diamond and other assaults, linking them to inflammatory political language. While Kiros condemned the violence, she initially avoided labeling it antisemitic, later describing it as a “horrific attack” but blaming Israel for rising antisemitism. Jewish officials, including Brandon Rattiner of the JCRC and ADL’s Susan Rona, argue that such rhetoric normalizes hate and endangers Jews, urging Kiros to listen to their concerns if she wins the November race.