Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros’ victory over 15-term congresswoman Diana DeGette has catapulted into the national consciousness, as part of a larger story about the ideological tug-of-war within the Democratic Party.

It also suddenly put the spotlight on the Republican candidate, who, in theory, could prevent Colorado from sending Kiros to Congress in November.

That candidate is Christy Peterson of South Denver, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination. The local Republican Party has no formal campaign website for the candidate.

DeGette had dominated her previous races. Two years ago, she won the general election in November with 75% of the vote, while her Republican opponent secured only 22%.

Indeed, before Kiros’ shocker of a victory, the general election contest in the Denver-based 1st Congressional District was supposed to be perfunctory — the Democrat was assured of reelection.

After Tuesday’s election results, the prevailing sentiment is that Kiros, as the Democratic nominee, remains heavily favored to win the general election race, though some Republican strategists see an opportunity not necessarily to wrestle the 1st Congressional District away from the Democratic column — but as a talking point against the Democratic Party.

It remains to be seen whether the CD1 race will attract big dollars.

While candidates and political action committees (PACs) reportedly raised more than $2 million for the Kiros-DeGette battle and anti-Kiros PACs ran attack ads on social media, the Federal Election Commission reported that the Christy Peterson for America Committee had reported zero receipts.

What pops up as Peterson’s own campaign site at christyforamerica.us appears to be a stock-formatted website with home-page graphics featuring the U.S. and Colorado state flags and a campaign graphic.

It reads: “Christy Peterson for Colorado Congressional District 1 ‘Denver’ Republican Candidate Elect, Voice for Denver Conservatives, Family, Safety, Faith, Budget, Freedom, Opportunity.”

At an office building in the Denver Tech Center, where Peterson serves as office manager and bookkeeper to a small contractor, tenants received a plastic bag on their doorknobs with Peterson’s poster and homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Meanwhile, hot-button issues surrounding Kiros’ whirlwind campaign to unseat DeGette included the Democratic socialist’s statements that apartheid had led to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israeli civilians, as well as over weapon sales to Israel and campaign contributions allegedly made by healthcare and other corporate PACs to DeGette’s campaign.

Those appear only tangentially related to Peterson’s announced platform issues listed on her site.

Her issues included making streets safe, reducing government waste, creating jobs, ridding the practice of mail-in ballots, securing the borders, opposing “communist socialism,” barring tax increases and concerns for environmental issues, such as “chemtrails” and “toxic weather modifications.”

Her stated platform has a sole statement in support of the U.S. defense relationship with Israel. She had backed Gov. Jared Polis’ release of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters after her conviction for tampering with ballot machines in 2021.

In her biography, Peterson described herself as a designer and accountant working in construction, born and raised in Colorado and running “to stand up against the progressive left and communist socialism.

“I’m a Conservative that believes in our God-given freedoms, Republican Principles, preserving our American freedoms, allowing free markets, keeping low taxes for all, boosting a strong U.S. economy, peace through strength, opportunity for all, while standing up for everyday Americans,” the biography continued.

She restated several platform issues, “including allowing Americans to live happy healthy lives.”

The Denver Gazette reached out to Peterson by phone and text this week for an interview in light of Kiros’ victory. She replied briefly that she had a full schedule and hoped to reach out “when I have some free time.”

The Denver Gazette also reached out to numbers of Colorado and Denver Republican Party leaders and consultants with questions about their support for Peterson’s candidacy.

The Denver Republican Party referred questions to Peterson’s campaign.

Meanwhile, Kiros’ victory has attracted the national media’s attention — it had already been featured in front-section stories in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.