Meet Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York’s Most Talked About Congressional Candidate

Link to the original article on Walker’s Legacy

June 27, 2018

It’s time for a New York that works for all of us

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ

Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, a 28-year old new to the political landscape, won the Democratic Primary congressional spot in New York’s 14th district and is now preparing for the midterm election. If elected, she would then become the youngest woman to hold a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ocasio-Cortez, a Bronx native and daughter of working-class immigrants from Puerto Rico, campaigned for Medicare for All, the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as the end of corporate financial involvement in politics. She is yet another case of a progressive Democratic candidate, having previously worked on immigration issues for Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy as well as organizing for Bernie Sanders during his 2016 bid for president despite this being her first run for office.

Her win against 10-term congressman Joseph Crowley has disproved establishment Democrats who doubted her and fortified the power of grassroots political movements. Only a year ago, Ocasio-Cortez worked as a bartender to support her family: “Women like me aren’t supposed to run for office,” she said in a campaign ad.

This photo is from Nov. 14, 2017. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 28, was then working as a bartender.

Less than a year later, she defeated the likely next Speaker of the House, and will almost certainly be the youngest woman ever elected to Congress pic.twitter.com/JgHjdQWAF6

— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) June 27, 2018

Ocasio is set to oppose Republican candidate Anthony Pappas in November for a seat in the House, learn more about her campaign here.