Progressive Watch

Colorado socialist congressional candidate Melat Kiros called for more migrants and people with “heritage in the global south” to seek elected office to push back against the “exploitative” nature of the American people.

Kiros is arguing that the United States plays an “exploitative and extractive” role in the world.

The Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate made the remarks during the Wa’Ela Tigrai event in Denver last weekend.

During the event, she discussed her congressional campaign after defeating longtime incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) in last month’s Democrat primary.

Kiros said changing the international order would require electing officials who understand what she described as American exploitation on a “fundamental level.”

Kiros Calls for Shift in ‘Global World Order’

Kiros pointed to the rise of House progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) while discussing the importance of helping other like-minded candidates enter government.

“There’s a certain reckoning that we are going to have to have with the global world order as it exists today and the way that it fundamentally will have to shift going forward,” Kiros said.

“The responsibility that we have as Americans, the recognition that is going to be required of us, of the exploitative and extractive nature that we play on the global scale and the global stage is only going to be challenged if we are getting represented by people who understand that on a fundamental level.”

Kiros then argued that more immigrants and people with ties to developing nations must win elected office.

“And that means getting more immigrants into office,” she said.

“That means getting more people who have heritage in the global south into office because that’s where those decisions are made specifically.”

Kiros was among several candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America who defeated incumbent Democrats during the 2026 primary cycle.

Candidate Says Legal System Works ‘Exactly as It Was Designed To’

Kiros also discussed how her experience attending law school shaped her view of the American legal and economic systems.

“When I was in law school, I tell everybody that was where I learned that the system is not broken, that it’s actually working exactly as it was designed to,” Kiros said.

“And that really kind of broke my spirit a little bit and made me believe there’s really nothing to be done, which is why I went to a big law firm in the first place and just wanted to retire and take care of my parents and call it a day.”

“But that’s no way to live, right?” she continued.

“At the end of the day, the spirit of our people, the spirit of our community and our culture is to fight and to never give up.”

Kiros said she intends to continue pushing her political agenda regardless of the outcome of the general election.

“Regardless of what ends up happening, regardless of what happens with my own candidacy and this general and then what this potential, you know, office could look like with me in it,” she said.

“I would rather go down fighting than to give up.”

However, the Democrat candidate is expected to win the general election in the reliably blue district.

Kiros Was Fired from Major Law Firm

Kiros previously worked at the prominent law firm Sidley Austin.

The firm fired her in 2023 after she published an open letter criticizing law firms, including Sidley Austin, that had called for action against antisemitism on college campuses.

Her victory over DeGette and her comments in Denver reflect the growing influence of the Democratic Party’s socialist wing.

The DSA is increasingly challenging longtime incumbents while calling for sweeping changes to American institutions and the country’s role abroad.

READ MORE – Democratic Socialists of America Launches Primary Challenge Against Progressive House Democrat