Diana DeGette was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 — before either of her primary challengers were born.
DeGette, now 68, is the longest-serving member of Colorado’s current congressional delegation. She will have represented the state’s First Congressional District in Denver for thirty years across fifteen terms by the time her term ends in January 2027. That’s the lengthiest run in the U.S. House for any Coloradan since Edward T. Taylor, who died in office in 1941 after serving 32 years.
DeGette is seeking her sixteenth term in 2026. But two political newcomers are hoping to end her record-breaking reign: 28-year-old Melat Kiros and 27-year-old Carter Hanson are running against DeGette in the Democratic Party primary…