The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is setting its sights on Colorado.

A handful of Tuesday’s primaries in the Democrat-dominated Rocky Mountain state are the next battleground in the fight between the far left and the center-left establishment over the future of the Democratic Party.

«Today, the East Coast, next week the Mountain West,» the DSA wrote in a social media post last week, hours after their ballot-box victories in a handful of congressional primaries in New York City.

The post came after DSA-aligned Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old far-left community organizer, ousted incumbent Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, another democratic socialist, won a congressional primary by defeating an establishment-backed candidate.

VICTORIES BY MAMDANI-BACKED CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES SPOTLIGHTS GROWING RIFT IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The victories by Chevalier and Valdez, who were heavily supported by democratic socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, further emboldened the far left as it takes on the center-left establishment in a high-stakes battle for the future of the Democratic Party.

The DSA is now looking to replicate its playbook across the country, starting Tuesday in the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, a solidly blue seat anchored in Denver that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried by a whopping 56 points in the 2024 election.

Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, who was first elected to Congress three decades ago, is facing two primary challengers, including DSA-backed Melat Kiros, a first-time candidate and former attorney born four months after DeGette first took office.

Kiros, who lost her job as a lawyer in New York after writing an essay critical of Israel, is also supported by Justice Democrats, the nearly decade-old political group known for heavily supporting «Squad» members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib as they toppled entrenched incumbents in their initial elections to Congress.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Democratic congressional candidate Melat Kiros participated in a League of Women Voters Congressional District 1 candidate forum at Montview Presbyterian Church on May 28, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

«ELECT ANOTHER SOCIALIST TO CONGRESS ON JUNE 30TH,» a DSA social media post states as it urges supporters to lend a hand to the Kiros campaign.

The Democratic Party divide will also play out in the primary in the neighboring 8th Congressional District, which stretches along the I-25 corridor north of Denver.

State Rep. Manny Rutinel is running to the left of former state Rep. Shannon Bird, with the winner taking on Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, who flipped the seat in the 2024 cycle. The race is considered one of two or three dozen that will determine if the GOP holds onto its razor-thin House majority in the midterms.

Immigration has been a top issue in the Democratic primary in a district where roughly 40% of the population is Latino. Rutinel has criticized Bird for a vote she cast last year opposing a measure limiting cooperation between local and state law enforcement and ICE.

MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALISTS LOOK TO TAKE NEW YORK PLAYBOOK NATIONWIDE AFTER PRIMARY VICTORIES

Senator John Hickenlooper, a Democrat from Colorado, walks in the Senate Subway of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 2026. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Another primary showdown highlighting the split between progressives and moderates, as well as the party’s generational divide, is the Senate nomination battle between incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper, 74, and former state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a 43-year-old progressive. Hickenlooper, a former Denver mayor and two-term governor, has seen his once-large advantage over Gonzales, a one-time DSA member, narrow.

The winner will face Republican state Sen. Mark Baisley, who is unopposed in his primary.

Shannon Jackson, a longtime progressive political strategist and grassroots organizer best known for his leadership roles in Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, pointed to last week’s results and told Fox News Digital that «people are frustrated.»

«The key message of the victors: Medicare-for-All, the importance of affordability and a living wage. Progressives have long fought for these values and I expect the primary victories to continue,» he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the state’s expensive and combustible Democratic gubernatorial primary pits Sen. Michael Bennet against state Attorney General Phil Weiser.

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., is running for Colorado governor in 2026. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

Bennet or Weiser will be considered the clear favorite in the race to succeed two-term Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, the first openly gay man elected governor in the nation’s history.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Weiser, who is running to Bennet’s left on certain issues, closed the gap with the senator as he spotlighted his efforts to take on President Donald Trump, including suing Trump 66 times as attorney general.

The winner will face either state Rep. Scott Bottoms, state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer or pastor and Marine Corps veteran Victor Marx as the Republican nominee.

Estados Unidos enviará este martes una delegación a Doha para intentar avanzar en contactos con Irán, pero Teherán descartó cualquier negociación directa durante los próximos días, en medio de una tregua cada vez más frágil tras nuevos ataques con misiles y una creciente tensión en el estrecho de Ormuz.

Las versiones contrapuestas de ambos gobiernos profundizaron la incertidumbre sobre el futuro del memorando de entendimiento firmado el 17 de junio, que busca consolidar un alto el fuego y abrir un proceso de negociación sobre el programa nuclear iraní y la estabilidad regional.

La portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt, informó que el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, enviará a su yerno Jared Kushner y al enviado especial Steve Witkoff para encabezar la delegación estadounidense en Qatar.

Sin embargo, desde Teherán rechazaron la posibilidad de un encuentro con representantes estadounidenses. El portavoz del Ministerio de Exteriores iraní, Esmaeil Baghaei, sostuvo que la presencia de una delegación técnica iraní en Doha «no tiene relación» con la visita de los enviados de Washington.

«No tendremos reuniones de negociación en ningún nivel con la parte estadounidense en los próximos días“, afirmó Baghaei.

Las declaraciones dejaron en evidencia las diferencias entre ambos gobiernos respecto del objetivo del viaje a Qatar. Mientras Washington mantiene abierta la posibilidad de un diálogo, Irán insiste en que no existe ninguna negociación prevista con funcionarios estadounidenses.

El memorando de entendimiento firmado el 17 de junio estableció un período mínimo de 60 días para aplicar un plan de 14 puntos destinado a consolidar el alto el fuego alcanzado en abril, abordar el programa nuclear iraní y negociar una tregua permanente. No obstante, las dificultades para aplicar ese acuerdo aumentaron porque ambas partes se acusan mutuamente de incumplir los compromisos asumidos.

El conflicto comenzó tras los ataques lanzados por Estados Unidos e Israel contra Irán el 28 de febrero. La escalada alteró de forma significativa el tránsito marítimo en el estrecho de Ormuz, una de las principales rutas energéticas del mundo. El cierre casi total del paso impulsó el precio del petróleo por encima de los 100 dólares por barril y elevó la presión inflacionaria internacional.

Aunque Israel no participa en las conversaciones previstas entre Washington y Teherán, la crisis también repercutió sobre otros escenarios regionales. En Líbano, el presidente del Parlamento, Nabih Berri, aliado de Hezbolá, expresó dudas respecto de otro acuerdo promovido por Estados Unidos entre Beirut e Israel.

Pese al rechazo oficial iraní, un alto funcionario de ese país citado por Reuters sostuvo que este martes podría concretarse algún tipo de encuentro en Doha. Según esa fuente, el objetivo sería distinto al de las reuniones técnicas anteriores celebradas en Suiza y se centraría en la administración del estrecho de Ormuz y en mecanismos para reducir la tensión militar en la región.

Otro funcionario vinculado con los preparativos indicó que equipos técnicos de Estados Unidos e Irán mantendrán reuniones por separado con mediadores de Qatar y Pakistán durante el miércoles, sin confirmar contactos directos entre ambas delegaciones.

Desde la Casa Blanca, Trump evitó presentar el encuentro como un avance concreto. «La reunión en Doha será quizás importante, quizás no. Lo vamos a averiguar“, declaró el mandatario ante periodistas en el Despacho Oval. El presidente estadounidense también defendió la estrategia militar de su administración.

«Estamos ganando militarmente“, sostuvo, al tiempo que reiteró que Washington mantiene como condición impedir que Irán desarrolle un arma nuclear.

Durante los últimos días la situación militar volvió a deteriorarse. Estados Unidos acusó a Irán de atacar al menos dos buques comerciales mediante misiles o drones y respondió con bombardeos sobre instalaciones militares iraníes. Teherán respondió con el lanzamiento de misiles y drones contra bases militares estadounidenses ubicadas en Kuwait y Bahréin durante la madrugada del domingo.

En paralelo, Irán incrementó la presión sobre Occidente mediante nuevas medidas relacionadas con el estrecho de Ormuz. Las autoridades iraníes anunciaron su intención de cobrar tarifas a los buques que utilicen esa vía marítima y obstaculizar el paso de embarcaciones que naveguen fuera de las rutas establecidas.

La evolución del conflicto también abrió un fuerte debate político dentro de Estados Unidos, en un año atravesado por las elecciones legislativas que definirán el control del Congreso.

El lunes, Steve Witkoff y el secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio, ofrecieron una sesión informativa telefónica a legisladores. El senador republicano Steve Daines calificó el intercambio como «constructivo“, aunque reconoció que los funcionarios aportaron pocos detalles sobre el contenido del acuerdo.

La evaluación del líder demócrata en el Senado, Chuck Schumer, fue mucho más crítica. «Fue deficiente y careció de detalles“, afirmó.

Schumer también cuestionó los beneficios del entendimiento alcanzado con Teherán. “Después de arrastrar a Estados Unidos a una guerra costosa, la administración Trump todavía no puede mencionar una sola cosa que los estadounidenses obtuvieron a cambio. En cambio, el secretario Rubio me confirmó que Irán recibirá miles de millones de dólares en ingresos petroleros mientras conserva una peligrosa capacidad de presión sobre el estrecho de Ormuz“, sostuvo.

Mientras tanto, el presidente iraní, Masoud Pezeshkian, anunció que 6.000 millones de dólares de un total de 12.000 millones de dólares en activos iraníes congelados en Qatar serán liberados y transferidos a Irán.

Pezeshkian calificó el memorando de entendimiento como «una gran victoria para el pueblo iraní“. El acuerdo también contempla exenciones estadounidenses a las sanciones aplicadas sobre los sectores petrolero y petroquímico iraní.

La situación también movilizó a los gobiernos europeos. El presidente francés, Emmanuel Macron, informó que trabaja junto con Omán para reducir las tensiones y colaborar con sus aliados en tareas de desminado del estrecho de Ormuz.

Horas después, el viceministro de Exteriores iraní, Kazem Gharibabadi, respondió mediante un mensaje publicado en la red social X. El funcionario sostuvo que la retirada de minas corresponde exclusivamente a Irán, conforme al plan de 14 puntos acordado, y advirtió a Francia que no complique la situación.

(Con información de REUTERS)

Graham Platner, the populist Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, is in a virtual dead heat in a crucial Senate showdown with longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins, according to a new poll.

Platner, the embattled candidate who has been facing a slew of controversies, stands at 49% support among likely voters questioned in a New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena poll released on Monday, with Collins at 47%, and 3% of respondents undecided or refusing to answer. Platner’s two-point edge is within the survey’s sampling error, meaning the contest is virtually tied.

Collins, a moderate Republican who at times votes against President Donald Trump’s agenda, is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate.

The high-profile and likely combustible and expensive race is among a handful that will determine if the GOP holds onto its slim Senate majority in November’s midterm elections. Republicans currently control the chamber 53-47 and flipping the Senate seat in left-leaning Maine is a key part of the Democrats’ path to retake the majority.

GAME ON IN KEY SENATE RACE AS PLATNER CAPTURES DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION

Platner, a military combat veteran and oyster farmer who is backed by progressive champions Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Rep. Ro Khanna of California, earlier this month easily defeated two longshot rivals in Maine’s Democratic Senate primary.

Platner, who advocates an economically populist agenda as he takes aim at corporate influences and advocates for the working class, also topped two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills in the primary. The governor’s name remained on the ballot even though Mills, who had been backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, suspended her bid this spring after significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling.

Platner’s victory also came as he was facing one of the roughest stretches of his bid for the U.S. Senate.

He was playing defense the past couple of months amid multiple controversies. They included inflammatory online comments made on Reddit, a well-publicized and now covered-up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol, recent reports that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women while married, and allegations from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes. Platner has called the allegations of violence untrue.

THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY

A day before the primary, a former high-level staffer from the Platner campaign wrote in the Washington Post that Platner «is not someone who would be good for Maine or for the country.»

The mounting controversies grabbed plenty of attention and triggered some Democrats in the nation’s capital to question whether Platner was damaged goods, but didn’t stop him from riding a populist wave to capture the nomination. More than 9 in 10 Platner supporters questioned in the poll said they had heard about his controversies but that their vote for him was based on where he stands on the issues.

Platner, who has acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his three tours of duty in the war in Iraq with the Marines and one tour with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan, apologized for his controversial Reddit posts after some of them made headlines last fall soon after he launched his Senate campaign.

And Platner has said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007 while drinking with fellow Marines stationed in Croatia. He said that he covered up the tattoo with a new design after learning last year that it resembled a Nazi symbol. But allegations from an ex-girlfriend raise questions about Platner’s timeline regarding knowledge of the tattoo.

In his primary night victory speech, Platner emphasized that he’s a changed man. 

«If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change,» Platner told the crowd. «And the reason I believe that is because I have lived it. And the reason that I have lived it is because of my wife.»

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Democratic Senate nominee in Maine Graham Platner and his wife speak with supporters following his primary night victory speech, in Blue Hill, Maine on June 9, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News Digital)

The new poll, conducted June 19-26, suggests Platner is having some difficulty winning over some voters who want the Democrats to take back power in Congress.

Fifty-four percent of respondents said they’d like to see the Democrats win back the Senate majority in the midterms, five points higher than the 49% who are supporting Platner. And Collins is capturing 10% of voters who prefer the Democrats control the Senate.

The poll also indicates that a majority of Maine voters don’t believe Platner has «good character» or the «right kind of moral values» and nearly half say he’s too extreme.

By contrast, more than 6 in 10 say Collins has «good character» and the «right kind of moral values» and only a third said she was too extreme for Maine.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine tours a food bank in Harrison, Maine, on May 5, 2026. The food bank was able to expand thanks to federal funding that the senator helped obtain. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Meanwhile, some Democratic respondents worried that the 41-year-old Platner, who has never held elective office, would be «too inexperienced.»

But there are also warning signs for Collins.

A majority questioned said they thought the senator would be too supportive of Trump and even some of her own supporters worry that the 73-year-old Collins is too old to be an effective senator.

The senator voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, in 2021, soon after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. And early last year she opposed the confirmation of now-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

But she is also remembered for her 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, which eventually helped the court’s conservative majority overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that had legalized abortion nationwide.

Beating Collins won’t be easy.

Six years ago, public opinion polls indicated the senator was headed to defeat, but Collins defied expectations and won re-election by topping then-Democratic state House Speaker Sara Gideon by nine points.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The new survey is the latest to indicate Platner with a slight edge over Collins, although a Pine Tree Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire late last month suggested Platner held a nine-point lead.

Spotlighting the new poll, the Platner campaign wrote in a social media post that «Susan Collins has the billionaires. The lobbyists. The Super PACs. The Washington establishment. But we have Maine.»