Overview
- Wanda James formally entered the Democratic primary on Wednesday to unseat Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Denver.
- DeGette, first elected in 1996, has routinely won by large margins and began the cycle with more than $320,000 on hand and the advantages of incumbency.
- James, a University of Colorado regent and cannabis entrepreneur, highlights deep political ties and national fundraising roles as evidence she can mount a serious campaign.
- She was censured by the CU Board of Regents this summer over conflict‑of‑interest concerns tied to a marijuana public‑health campaign, and she says she would divest from her dispensary if elected.
- The primary field also includes 28‑year‑old newcomers Melat Kiros and Carter Hanson, and James is campaigning on Medicare for All, income‑based free public university tuition, and an immigration overhaul with a path to citizenship.