Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha sharply criticized Melat Kiros, Colorado’s 1st Congressional District candidate, saying, “Here we have another foreign-born, anti-American candidate.”
Kiros, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who was born in Ethiopia but moved to the United States as a baby, has secured endorsements from prominent figures of the Democratic Party’s left, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), as well as backing from the DSA.
Concha argued that her positions and rhetoric reflect a broader shift in the Democratic Party toward socialism and extremism. Concha pointed to Kiros’s policy platform, which includes support for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and implementing Medicare for All, as well as her response to questions about political violence.
Concha specifically criticized Kiros’s refusal to characterize a firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, as antisemitic, noting her suggestion that she could not speak to the attacker’s intent.
“I mean, who cares what’s in that person’s heart? That person needs to go to jail, and yet here we have another foreign-born, anti-American candidate who will win in this district. You look at any polling that’s coming out of there, this could be easily a double-digit victory for Melat Kiros,” Concha said on Fox News’s Fox & Friends First Tuesday.
Kiros is running against incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), who has held the Denver-area seat for nearly 30 years.
Concha further suggested that Kiros represents a broader national trend of socialist candidates gaining traction in major cities and liberal districts, citing recent victories by similar candidates in New York City, Seattle, and Colorado.
“We just saw it last week, three Democrat Socialist, which again is the biggest oxymoron ever to put Democrat and socialist in the same sentence as far as democracy and socialism existing peacefully. Then we also have obviously in Seattle, Washington, in Washington, D.C., now Colorado, which used to be a Purple state,” Concha said.
SOCIALISTS BRING NEW YORK MOMENTUM TO DENVER WITH CHALLENGE OF 30-YEAR HOUSE INCUMBENT
Concha stated that if Kiros wins her district, it would mark a significant victory for the socialist movement and provide Republicans with a clear contrast in messaging.
Concha also noted that Republicans should simplify their electoral pitch, saying, “just make it a very simple choice for voters.”