politics
DSA-Backed Candidates Defeat Two Incumbent House Democrats in Primaries
New York Post reported that Democratic Socialists of America candidates won recent primaries against sitting members of Congress. The victories precede comments from a DSA leader about influencing the 2028 presidential race.
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New York Post reported that DSA-backed candidate Melat Kiros defeated Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in a Colorado primary on Tuesday. DeGette was first elected to Congress in 1996 and took office in 1997.
Kiros, a 29-year-old first-time candidate and former attorney, prevailed in the contest. One week earlier, Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old progressive community organizer, defeated incumbent Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat in a New York City primary, New York Post reported.
Espaillat chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. In a separate New York race, DSA-aligned state Assembly Member Claire Valdez won a primary to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez. NYC DSA co-Chair Gustavo Gordillo told MS NOW on Thursday that his organization would be “thrilled” if Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ran for president in 2028. Gordillo said the group would try to influence the next presidential primary but added it was too soon to specify how or whom. He noted that many in the organization would welcome an Ocasio-Cortez candidacy, though the decision remained hers.
Ocasio-Cortez told MS NOW’s Jen Psaki last week that incumbent Democrats should meet young candidates before forming judgments. She told Fox News Digital last month she had not ruled out a presidential bid. New York Post reported that Ocasio-Cortez has supported DSA-backed candidates despite past comments from some of them, including Chevalier calling the U.S.
