DENVER — University of Colorado Regent Wanda James announced she will challenge Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary, marking a rare intraparty contest against the state’s longest-serving member of Congress who has held the seat for almost 30 years.
The primary challenge represents the seventh time since 2000 that a Democratic incumbent in Colorado has faced a challenger, compared to 13 Republican incumbent challenges.
DeGette has previously faced four other primaries as a congresswoman in 2022, 2018, 2016 and 2002, winning all handily. She briefly faced a challenge in 2020, but former Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran dropped out before the election…