Who's running in Colorado's 1st congressional district
5 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Massive federal investment in public and social housing.
Raising the federal minimum wage to at least $20 an hour, indexed to inflation.
Medicare for All and universal childcare.
Abolishing ICE and ending US military aid to Israel, whose war in Gaza she calls genocide.
Reclaiming Congress's war, spending and tariff powers from the executive.
Refusing corporate PAC money; holding unscreened in-person town halls across the district.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Former attorney; fired in 2023 after refusing to remove a Medium essay criticising law firms over pro-Palestinian protests.
Won the June 30, 2026 Democratic primary with about 53%, defeating Rep. Diana DeGette and CU regent Wanda James.
Endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America.
Declined in a June 2026 9News interview to say whether she considered the 2025 Boulder firebombing of a vigil for Israeli hostages antisemitic.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
Denverites are 'working harder than ever and falling further behind' without a real answer from Washington; as a renter and barista who has 'done the math on whether I can afford a doctor's visit', she will fight for housing, higher wages and Medicare for All free of corporate PAC money.
Congress's failure to check President Trump on war, spending and tariffs is 'a dereliction of duty', and she would use subpoenas, investigations and the appropriations process to hold the administration accountable.
Young voters want 'leaders that are going to be fighting for the kind of bold policies that actually get something done' rather than waiting their turn.
— Melat Kiros, to NPR
Arguments against
Rhetoric from Kiros and her supporters has been antisemitic, including her refusal to call the Boulder firebombing antisemitic, and 'some of her more radical, socialist ideas bother me.'
— Shimon Blau, unaffiliated opponent, to The Denver Gazette and on social media as reported by The Colorado Sun
Experience in Congress is what is needed right now to combat President Trump.
— Rep. Diana DeGette, her Democratic primary opponent, as reported by PBS NewsHour/AP
What we couldn’t verify
No statement from Republican nominee Christy Peterson about Kiros was found.
Whether the candidates will debate had not been reported.
Showing Denver voters 'our Republican values and how those values can help people, families, businesses, individuals'.
Safer streets, cutting government waste, creating jobs and securing the border.
Ending mail-in ballots and opposing tax increases.
Opposing 'communist socialism'; supporting the U.S. defence relationship with Israel.
Supporting the Trump administration's pursuit of fraud in federal programmes.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Nominated at the Denver Republican assembly on April 7, 2026 and unopposed in the June 30 primary.
Works in office management and accounting at a construction company.
Has not held elected office.
Reported no campaign receipts to the FEC as of early July 2026.
Supported Gov. Polis's release of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters.
Arguments in favor
She is running 'to stand up against the progressive left and communist socialism' as 'a Conservative that believes in our God-given freedoms, Republican Principles... free markets, keeping low taxes for all... peace through strength, opportunity for all.' Programmes presented as 'good' are 'not helping people, they're creating government dependency.'
— Christy Peterson, campaign biography quoted by Colorado Politics and remarks quoted by The Center Square
Arguments against
Her campaign had reported zero receipts to the FEC, had no local party campaign website, and she declined interview requests after Kiros's win; her platform includes opposition to 'chemtrails' and 'toxic weather modifications' and ending mail-in ballots, issues 'only tangentially related' to the race.
— Colorado Politics / Denver Gazette reporting
What we couldn’t verify
Whether Peterson will campaign actively or debate Kiros had not been reported.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Colorado held its primaries on June 30, 2026; November 3 is the general election, decided by plurality with no runoff. The district uses the map drawn by Colorado's independent redistricting commission in 2021; no redistricting affecting 2026 was found. Amendment 86 on this November's ballot concerns future congressional redistricting and would not change the 2026 lines. This is an open race in effect: Democrat Melat Kiros defeated 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette in the primary, roughly 53% to 40%, with University of Colorado regent Wanda James also running. Five candidates are on the ballot, per the Secretary of State's list certified September 4: Kiros; Republican Christy Peterson, unopposed for her nomination; Libertarian Chad Humphrey; unaffiliated Shimon Blau, a Denver doctor who petitioned onto the ballot after the primary; and Unity Party candidate Critter Milton. Write-in candidates Kevin StClair, John Wren and Stephen Replin are registered but not included here. The district covers nearly all of Denver and has not elected a Republican since 1970.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Colorado ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.