Colorado’s 1st Congressional District race, which is focusing on healthcare, immigration and taxes, could help determine whether Republicans keep their razor-thin House majority.
The House currently has 218 Republicans, an independent who caucuses with Republicans (U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley of Rocklin, Calif.) and 214 Democrats. There are currently two vacant seats. All 435 seats will be filled in the Nov. 3 general election, and 218 is the minimum number needed for a majority.
One Democrat and an independent in the Colorado race are calling for higher taxes on the rich, while the Republican candidate favors lowering taxes in general.
Democratic-Socialist candidate Melat Kiros, who has called for tax increases on wealthy Americans, shook up the campaign trail when she announced her bid for Congress in July 2025. Since then, the Democrat has raised over $1 million, with over 90% of donations coming from individuals.
Kiros was born in Ethiopia just weeks before her father was selected in the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery, enabling the family to move to Denver in 1998. She later went on to attend college and get her law degree from Notre Dame in 2022. After graduation, she worked as an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP, a global law firm.
According to her campaign, her main priorities include Medicare for all, ending all wars, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and creating universal childcare and eldercare. Most of these priorities she claims are a “human right.”
Kiros said Medicare for all is “long-overdue” on her campaign website. She said that if a Medicare for all policy was implemented, it “could save [Americans] thousands per year while getting better, more reliable care.”
Kiros did not respond to The Center Square’s request for an interview.
Another candidate, an independent named Dr. Shimon Blau, shared Kiros’ concern about the rising costs of healthcare and the inability to provide adequate coverage for patients.
During an interview with The Center Square, Blau, a physician who plans to caucus with Democrats if elected, said his ultimate long-term vision would be to “transition our country toward a universal healthcare system where every single American has access to high-quality, affordable care.”
However, he noted, “As a physician and a pragmatist, I recognize the political reality before us: a complete overhaul of our healthcare infrastructure is not going to happen over the next two years under the Trump administration.”
“Because of this, we must focus on a dual-track strategy,” Blau told The Center Square. “We must take immediate, practical steps to hold private insurance companies accountable today, while simultaneously moving the needle in the direction of universal coverage for tomorrow.”
He said this could be done immediately by “cutting the red tape and mandating streamlined prior authorization processes so insurers cannot arbitrarily delay or deny doctor-recommended treatments.”
He also encouraged stricter coverage standards to ensure that all forms of health – from mental, physical, long-term, and chronic disease management – are adequately covered without “predatory out-of-pocket costs.”
Housing affordability is also a concern for the candidates. Kiros writes on her campaign website that she supports the development of publicly-owned, mixed-income social housing. However, she does not indicate on her website how Congress would pay for this.
Blau told The Center Square that he would pursue federal policies to expand incentives for building more housing, specifically starter homes and workforce housing. He acknowledged the affordability crisis in Colorado is driving up the costs of homes.
“We need to make it easier and less expensive to build housing, reduce unnecessary barriers that delay construction, and expand the supply of homes people can actually afford. At the same time, we need to strengthen Denver’s economy, support small businesses, and create good-paying jobs so wages can keep pace with the cost of living,” Blau said.
Christy Peterson, the Republican candidate in the 1st Congressional District race, told The Center Square that she acknowledged the rising costs of affordability and housing in the state, and supports expanding tax cuts for Americans to put more money in their pockets.
Both Blau and Kiros support an increased tax on the wealthiest Americans, while Peterson did not indicate how she felt about the current tax structure.
Kiros’s website displays a “tax the rich” section, where she dives into her plans for taxing the most wealthy Americans in an attempt to provide relief for middle- and low-income Americans.
“I support an Ultra-Millionaire Tax on net worth above $50 million, closing the carried-interest loophole, and taxing the margin loans that billionaires use to avoid paying capital gains entirely,” Kiros’s website states.
Blau said he is “not dogmatically opposed to adjusting tax structures, including those for wealthier Americans, if done pragmatically.” However, he said “we must approach tax policy with extreme caution. If federal tax increases are too aggressive, they risk triggering unintended economic consequences at the local level.”
He added he is open to balanced, bipartisan discussions on taxpayer revenue, but wants to focus on federal spending first to ensure the protection of Denver’s local workforce and keep the local economy competitive.
Blau further told The Center Square that he would caucus with the Democratic Party in Congress for several reasons. “First, I understand that this is a strongly Democratic district, and I believe it’s important to respect the will of the people I represent. Second, I believe Congress has a constitutional responsibility to hold the Trump administration accountable, regardless of party. Finally, I want to help restore the proper balance of power in our government.”
He contends Congress has ceded too much of its authority to the executive branch.
Although Peterson was unable to answer all of the questions from The Center Square, the Republican noted she aligns herself with Republican President Donald Trump on certain issues such as immigration, which is a stark contrast from those of her Democratic-leaning opponents.
While Kiros has called for abolition of ICE, Peterson noted, “Those who entered the country skipping proper immigration procedure … – they broke the law, and yes, I think they should [be deported].”
However, she said she would be “open to an option for people who have been here for so long.”
She said sanctuary city policies in blue states and blue cities such as Denver have created a substantial burden on the residents. She said there is widespread support for the Trump administration’s efforts to protect Americans.
