People: Congressional Candidates

Eyeing a Seat at the Nation’s Top Table

The red-brick paths of Washington College have long served as a corridor to the halls of power in the United States capital. It is a legacy deeply woven into the institution’s identity, with seven graduates having served as U.S. Senators and six as members of the U.S. House of Representatives—a group that includes several distinguished leaders who held both offices during their political careers. Today, that tradition is experiencing a vibrant resurgence as three alumni, Melat Kiros ’18, Brandon Riker ’10, and Sam Polan ’12, launched campaigns for the U.S. Congress, bringing perspectives and drive forged on the Chester River to the national stage.

The momentum behind this new generation of leaders can be found in the much-chronicled surge of Melat Kiros ’18, who is running for Congress in Colorado’s 1st District. Kiros made waves when a delegate vote at a party caucus in Denver saw the 15-term Democratic incumbent she’s looking to unseat, Rep. Diana DeGette, underperform. According to The Downballot, Kiros won the support of 63% of attendees compared to 35% for DeGette. The primary on June 2 will decide which candidate advances to the general election.

For Kiros, a double major in political science and economics and former Student Government Association President while at Washington, the decision to run was born from a belief that the Democratic Party was not doing enough to resist corporate influence or address the concerns of young voters.

Her platform is a bold response to what she calls the unaffordable reality of cities like Denver, and she hopes to focus on foundational basic needs—addressing issues around housing, health care, public education, and access to nutritional food—as well as reforming “politics as usual.” She is in favor of imposing term limits for public office (18 years), making home buying more accessible to younger generations, and combating financial barriers to running for office.

“I’m introducing a potentially new solution, which is to tax super PAC contributions and use the funds from those taxes to create a public fund for congressional candidates,” suggested Kiros. “We can start leveling the playing field with how much big money is at play here. Small dollar donor empowerment programs are really popular. We have them here in Denver. We saw how powerful they were in New York City for [Zohran] Mamdani when he was battling against those massive moneyed interests with Andrew Cuomo.”

Kiros credits Washington College with providing the intellectual trajectory that led her to this moment. She recalls her time as SGA President as a formative experience where she learned that “leadership is not about what I bring to the table,” but rather “what can I bring out in the people that I’m representing.” Her economics degree, in particular, taught her a healthy skepticism of traditional metrics. She argues that indicators like the GDP are “misleading,” citing the example that a surprise medical bill paid by a credit card technically counts toward the GDP despite representing zero actual economic health for the individual.

“I just realized something has to change,” Kiros said. “We need to do something different as a party, and no one else was stepping up to do it. And obviously, this is going to be a really tough race, but there’s just too much at stake for us not to be fighting, despite whatever the odds might be.”

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On the West Coast, the same spirit of service is driving Brandon Riker ’10 in his campaign to represent California’s 48th Congressional District, spanning the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley.

Riker, a trained economist and small business owner, has distinguished himself through a platform focused on pragmatic financial relief. While the political landscape is often dominated by abstract debates, Riker’s focus is granular. As reported by Fox 5 San Diego, he has proposed specific reforms to the FICA tax to provide immediate breathing room for working families.

“There are over 150 lawyers in Congress, but not a single trained economist,” Riker said, pointing out that housing costs in North County San Diego and Riverside County have surged beyond reach, while rising fire insurance premiums are forcing longtime residents to leave. “I would bring a different perspective to Congress. Voters deserve serious solutions that lower costs, raise wages, and support working Californians.”

The momentum behind his campaign is reflected in both his endorsements and his fundraising. As of early 2026, Riker led all Democratic challengers in fundraising, reporting over $1.5 million raised. This financial strength has positioned him as a top-tier contender to flip a seat historically held by figures like Darrell Issa and Duncan D. Hunter.

Riker’s path to public service was accelerated during his undergraduate years in Chestertown. Following his sophomore year, he took an 18-month hiatus to work on the 2008 Obama presidential campaign, an experience he describes as a “front-row seat to the impact of organizing.” When he returned to Washington to finish his degree, that fire remained lit.

Beyond the classroom, Riker points to being on the crew team as a primary source of his leadership philosophy. “The hours spent on the water ... instilled discipline, resilience, and a deep appreciation for teamwork,” he recalled. “Rowing teaches you that success depends on everyone pulling together toward a common goal—something that directly translates to public service.”

Serving as a member of the Washington College Board of Visitors and Governors since 2017, Riker’s connection to the College remains a grounding force. He views his role on the board as a microcosm of the work he hopes to do in D.C.: collaborating with faculty, students, and administration to solve immediate problems, from Pell Grant policies to free speech.

“My time at Washington College had a profound impact on my desire to serve,” noted Riker. “At its core was the value of a broad liberal arts education, learning to see the world through multiple perspectives and to connect the dots between history, policy, and current events. That foundation is essential for understanding the challenges we face today and for thinking clearly about how to move forward in a meaningful way.”

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In Illinois, Sam Polan ’12 came up short of the votes needed to advance past the 15-candidate Democratic primary for the 9th Congressional District, but his campaign allowed him to raise issues he felt needed attention.

After nine years in the Army and two at the Pentagon, Polan felt compelled to run after witnessing what he described as “disrespect shown to civil and military servants” during his time serving under the current administration.

In emailed statements to Washington College’s editorial team, he warned that the nation is “losing generations of institutional knowledge,” calling the current atmosphere both a “security threat” and a “moral one.”

Polan’s vision of service—that of putting the needs of others above your own—was significantly shaped by his undergraduate years in Chestertown. He credits Washington College with teaching him to think critically and analyze things from multiple perspectives, a skill he finds lacking in today’s partisan landscape. Polan believes the current system is paralyzing our ability to govern effectively by focusing on scoring points on social media rather than active listening.
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