Plus more Democratic challenge campaigns worth watching
Colorado US Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Denver) barely survived a ballot challenge at the Democratic Assembly caucuses over the weekend.
Under Colorado election procedure, a candidate may qualify for the ballot in two ways. First, receive at least 30% support from the party assembly delegates or, second, submit 1,500 valid registered voter petition signatures. Candidates can both participate in the assembly and file petitions.
At the 1st Congressional District Assembly last Saturday, Rep. DeGette received only 33% of the delegate vote opposite attorney Melat Kiros.
According to The Down Ballot political blog, 235 delegates were present and voting, meaning just 78 of the participating individuals voted for the 15-term incumbent. The result indicates that she earned ballot placement by just eight votes. Rep. DeGette did not file petitions as a safeguard against performing poorly at the assembly; therefore, she risked renomination defeat had she fallen below the 30% threshold.
A third 1st District Democratic congressional candidate, University of Colorado Regent Wanda James, did not participate in the assembly, but filed signature petitions.
Therefore, it appears Rep. DeGette has a serious primary challenge in the June 30 Colorado plurality primary election. According to the 2025 year-end Federal Election Commission financial disclosure statement, the Congresswoman held just over $535,000 in her campaign account. Mr. Kiros raised over $230,000 and Ms. James slightly under $180,000.
Though the delegate vote was overwhelming for Mr. Kiros, the assembly result is not necessarily representative of the 1st District Democratic primary vote base. It does show, however, that Mr. Kiros is a serious candidate and has significant grassroots support among the most active regular party primary voters.
Rep. DeGette is certainly not the only veteran Democratic incumbent facing a competitive primary challenge. Three, for example, face former US House members. Opposing Reps. April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Wesley Bell (D-MO), and Julie Johnson (TX-33) are former members who previously held the respective seat.
At this point, in addition to Rep. DeGette, 16 other Democratic congressional incumbents must run a serious campaign for renomination. Fewer Republicans face primary challenges, though Texas US Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Humble) has already been defeated in the March 3 GOP primary.
Below is a list of the other significant Democratic challenge campaigns that are worth watching as primary season progresses. The principal challengers are also identified (source: Politics1 website):
CA-4
Rep. Mike Thompson vs. venture capitalist Eric Jones (California jungle primary is June 2)
CA-7
Rep. Doris Matsui vs. Sacramento City Councilwoman Mai Vang and two other Democrats (jungle primary)
CA-17
Rep. Ro Khanna vs. financial tech executive Ethan Agarwal and cybersecurity engineer Mike Katz (jungle primary)
CA-32
Rep. Brad Sherman vs. ex-Biden White House aide Jake Levine, son of former Congressman Mel Levine, and five other Democrats (jungle primary)
CT-1
Rep. John Larson vs. former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin; state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, and two other Democrats (Connecticut plurality primary is August 11)
FL-20
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick vs. Luke Campbell, entertainer and former Miami Mayor candidate, ex-Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness, ex-Sunrise City Commissioner Mark Douglas, community organizer Elijah Manley, and physician Rudy Moise. Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick is under federal indictment, and the House Ethics Committee last week found her guilty of 25 ethics violations. (Florida plurality primary is August 18)
GA-13
Rep. David Scott vs. state Sen. Emanuel Jones, state Rep. Jasmine Clark, ex-Gwinnett County School Board Chair Everton Blair, and three others. (Georgia primary is May 19; runoff June 16 if no one receives majority support)
HI-1
Rep. Ed Case vs. state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, former state House Majority Leader Della Belatti, and two others. (Hawaii plurality primary is August 8)
IN-7
Rep. Andre Carson vs. consultant George Hornedo, and two others (Indiana plurality primary is May 5)
MD-6
Rep. April McClain Delaney vs. ex-US Rep. David Trone, and six other Democrats (Maryland plurality primary is June 23)
MI-13
Rep. Shri Thanedar vs. state Rep. Donovan McKinney and three others (Michigan plurality primary is August 4)
MN-5
Rep. Ilhan Omar vs. MN AFSCME Vice-President & DNC Member Latonya Reeves, and attorney Julie Le (Minnesota plurality primary is August 11)
MO-1
Rep. Wesley Bell vs. former US Rep. Cori Bush and four other Democrats (Missouri plurality primary is August 4)
NY-15
Rep. Ritchie Torres vs. ex-state Assemblyman Michael Blake and three others (New York plurality primary is June 23)
TN-9
Rep. Steve Cohen vs. state Rep. Justin Pearson, pastor DeVante Hill, and businessman LaTroy Alexandria-Williams (Tennessee plurality primary is August 6)
TX-33
Rep. Julie Johnson vs. ex-US Rep. Colin Allred in runoff election from March 3rd primary (Texas runoff election day is May 26)
