In a landslide victory, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette has won the Democratic primary vote for Congressional District 1, according to the Associated Press.
With the win, DeGette goes on to face Republican candidate Jennifer Qualteri. She hasn't made any campaign finance filings, compared to DeGette's $808,000, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission data. In a blog post on her website, Qualteri defended the Proud Boys, which the Southern Poverty Law Center designates as a hate group. CO-01 leans heavily Democratic, and redistricting hasn't changed that. CO-01 hasn't elected a Republican to Congress in 50 years.
DeGette hasn't faced many challengers in the Democratic primaries. She's seeking her 14th term in Congress and has represented the Denver area, along with the nearby suburbs of Glendale, Englewood, Sheridan, and Cherry Hills Village, since 1997, making her the longest-serving member of the Colorado congressional delegation.
In 2018, DeGette faced progressive candidate Saira Rao and defeated her by half the votes about a half-hour after polls closed.
DeGette was unchallenged in 2020, but this year she faced another progressive candidate in Neal Walia.
Walia is a political organizer and self-proclaimed "grassroots progressive candidate." A son of Indian immigrants, Walia would have been the first person of color to represent the district if he had won the primary and gone on to take the seat.
Max Lubbers contributed to this story.
