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Colorado Primary Shocks: It’s DeGette & Bennet, Not Socialism
What Really Happened in Colorado’s Primary Election? (Hint: It Wasn’t a "Socialist Wave")
Quick Summary: National media claimed Colorado voters suddenly turned "far left" after two longtime politicians lost their primaries. But the real story? Voters were just tired of being ignored by their representatives.
The Headlines That Got Everyone Talking
After Colorado’s Democratic primary last month, big national outlets jumped to a dramatic conclusion:
- The Wall Street Journal declared: "The Socialist Wave Reaches the Heartland"
- President Trump said the results proved the "menace of Communism" is spreading
- Political analysts inside the Beltway (that’s Washington D.C. insider talk) agreed: Colorado had swung wildly to the far left
Why the panic? Two well-known incumbents lost:
- Rep. Diana DeGette (30 years in Congress) lost to Melat Kiros, a democratic socialist
- Sen. Michael Bennet lost the governor’s race to Phil Weiser, the state’s attorney general
But Wait — What If the Headlines Are Wrong?
Important Point
The author (T.R. Reid, a Denver resident) argues the media completely missed the point. Colorado isn’t suddenly full of socialists. In fact, the state has "extremely few socialists." The election wasn’t about ideology — it was about accountability.
The Real Reason: Two Politicians Who Stopped Showing Up
1. Diana DeGette: "Too Busy" for Voters
After 30 years in Congress, DeGette acted like her seat was guaranteed for life. During the campaign:
| DeGette’s Approach | Kiros’s Approach |
|---|---|
| Refused media interviews ("too busy") | Appeared on every news show |
| Avoided tough questions | Answered every question asked |
| Made constituents jump through hoops | Showed up and listened |
The author’s personal experience: When requesting a 20-minute meeting for a book project, DeGette’s office said no. The only option? Call into a "telephone town hall" and hope to be one of the few callers picked to ask a question.
What’s a "telephone town hall"?
It’s a conference call where the politician talks, and only a handful of pre-screened constituents get to ask questions. Not exactly "accessible representation."
2. Michael Bennet: Leaving the Job He Was Elected To Do
Bennet’s situation was arguably worse:
- He was so disengaged from his Senate job that he left in the middle of his term to run for governor
- His opponent, Phil Weiser, kept asking: "Why aren’t you in Washington using your seniority to fight for Colorado?"
- Voters were asking the same question.
The Hypocrisy That Really Angered Voters
Here’s where it gets really interesting. Both DeGette and Bennet claimed to support universal health care. But in 2016:
- 154,000 Coloradans signed petitions to put a universal coverage proposal (Amendment 69) on the ballot
- DeGette and Bennet opposed it — siding with their big corporate contributors instead of their own constituents
- The measure lost
Key Takeaway
Voters weren’t rejecting capitalism. They were rejecting politicians who say one thing and do another — and who ignore the people who sent them to Washington.
What Colorado Voters Actually Said
The message from the primary was simple and had nothing to do with socialism:
"Do your job. Show up. Listen to us. Remember who you work for."
Summary: The Lesson Nobody in Washington Wants to Hear
| Media Narrative | Reality on the Ground |
|---|---|
| "Socialist wave!" | "Constituent wave!" |
| Colorado turned far-left | Colorado turned fed up |
| Ideology drove the vote | Accessibility and honesty drove the vote |
| Fear the "menace of Communism" | Fear ignoring your voters |
The real headline should be: Incumbents Who Ignore Their Constituents Lose Elections — Even After 30 Years.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Was Melat Kiros elected because she’s a democratic socialist?
No. She won because she showed up, answered questions, and listened — while her opponent refused interviews and treated the seat as her entitlement. Her label mattered far less than her accessibility.
Is Colorado becoming a socialist state?
Not at all. The author explicitly states Colorado has "extremely few socialists." This was a referendum on representation, not ideology.
Why did Michael Bennet leave the Senate mid-term?
He chose to run for governor instead of finishing his Senate term. Voters saw this as abandoning the job they elected him to do — especially when his seniority could have helped Colorado in Washington.
What was Amendment 69, and why does it matter?
Amendment 69 was a 2016 ballot measure for universal health care in Colorado. 154,000 citizens signed petitions to put it on the ballot. DeGette and Bennet — who say they support universal care — opposed it, siding with corporate donors. This hypocrisy stuck with voters.
What’s the takeaway for other politicians?
Show up. Listen. Be accessible. Remember who sent you. No amount of seniority or name recognition protects you if you treat constituents like an inconvenience.
T.R. Reid is a Denver resident and author of The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care.
