Colorado Dems Brace for a Socialist Earthquake Tonight, With All Eyes on This Race

The socialist wave that removed establishment Democrats in New York might soon reach Colorado. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) appeared to have secured the gubernatorial nomination with a strong war chest, top endorsements, and a 30-point lead in the polls. However, this is now uncertain, as the structural advantages Bennet once had have diminished. 

State Attorney General Phil Weiser could challenge Bennet, but he isn’t alone: Rep. Diana DeGette is fighting for her political life against a candidate who would make Mamdani socialists proud in Melat Kiros. Internal polling indicates that DeGette and Kiros are within the margin of error. If Kiros can pick off DeGette, it’ll be, as some Colorado politicos noted, a total game-changer (via Politico).

Democrats in the Centennial State are bracing for an anti-establishment earthquake of their own. Tuesday’s primary election will test the left’s momentum beyond the five boroughs — and whether the anti-incumbent fever will topple Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Diana DeGette, a pair of longtime fixtures of state Democratic politics.

 

Bennet allies acknowledge his primary for governor race is far closer than they expected, a startling position for one of the state’s best-known Democrats, while DeGette is facing similar anti-Washington headwinds, as internal polling in recent days has set off alarm bells for the 30-year incumbent.

[…]

While Bennet allies maintain they still believe he has the slight edge, two Democratic strategists familiar with his campaign said internal polling has shown a tighter contest than they expected, raising concerns that voter anger toward any close association with Washington has made even the well-known statewide figure vulnerable. A recent public survey conducted by the liberal pollster PPP showed him trailing outside the margin of error.

“There may be only a slight Bennet advantage at this point,” said a Democratic strategist close to the Colorado governor’s race, granted anonymity to candidly discuss the campaign, adding that private polling has been “all over the place.”

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The race has increasingly become a contest over who has fought President Donald Trump harder, reflecting what many Democrats describe as the defining mood of this year’s primary electorate: anger with Washington, frustration with Democratic leadership and a desire for candidates who project an ability to fight.

[…]

The anxiety may be even greater around DeGette. The 68-year-old is facing her most serious primary challenge of her three decades in Congress from democratic socialist Melat Kiros, who at 29 years old was born just a few months after DeGette first won her seat.

People close to DeGette’s campaign say the warning signs have been there for months. But her team’s concern ratcheted up in recent weeks as the campaign’s internal polling found the race also narrowing to within the margin of error, according to two political strategists close to DeGette’s campaign. The tightening, coupled with New York’s insurgent sweep that took out a pair of congressmen, set off a panic and helped to finally convince skeptical donors and allied groups that the threat was real after DeGette’s team had spent weeks warning national Democrats they were facing a far more competitive race than many appreciated. National groups have poured in money in the race’s final week in a desperate attempt to save the Congress member, even as some DeGette allies privately grumble that she had not done nearly enough to stave off her challenger.

[…]

Several Colorado Democrats cautioned Denver is not New York. The city is not as liberal, its DSA infrastructure is significantly smaller, and DeGette still benefits from decades of name recognition and relationships across the district. But they also acknowledge Denver has become younger, more progressive and increasingly receptive to anti-establishment candidates.

 

“Everybody now knows this is a race. This is no longer sneaking up on everybody,” one longtime Democratic strategist close to the DeGette campaign said. “I think DeGette should be very concerned.”

Having a strong name ID isn’t always enough. In 2014, Eric Cantor was well-known, yet he lost his primary to David Brat. Cantor spent a lot of money attacking Brat, which only made voters in his district remember there was another choice, and Republicans decided to try a different approach that cycle. 

Yes, Colorado isn’t New York, but we’ll see if a red wave sweeps through, albeit one that carries a hammer and sickle.