Powerful New York Democrat, Representive Joe Crowley lost in a stunning primary upset last night to a 28-year-old self-described socialist despite being outspent 18-to-1.
Crowley’s fall from grace is even more astonishing considering that insiders thought the ten-term incumbent a potential future Speaker of the House.
His competitor, a first-time candidate named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ran on an unabashedly leftist platform, calling for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and hawking Medicare-for-all. (Politico)
Ocasio-Cortez, a 2011 graduate of Boston University, bested Crowley 57-42 after campaigning on abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and pushing the Medicare-for-all bill carried by Sanders, the independent Vermont senator. But above all, she argued that a 50-something white man with close ties to the real estate and pharmaceutical lobbies should no longer be representing one of America’s most ethnically diverse congressional districts.
“We met a machine with a movement,” the stunned Ocasio-Cortez said on NY1, rendered speechless by the strength of her returns.
Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx, and her mother hails from Puerto Rico. Ocasio-Cortez told POLITICO earlier this year that after the recession hit she waitressed and bartended while her mom cleaned houses and drove school buses to stave off foreclosure on the family home. During her time in Boston, she worked for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, helping to handle foreign affairs and immigration casework for constituents in the district.
After college, Ocasio-Cortez worked for the National Hispanic Institute and was an organizer on Sanders’ 2016 presidential bid. PACs linked to Sanders’ bid supported Ocasio-Cortez, including Brand New Congress and Justice Democrats. She was endorsed by Our Revolution, Democracy for America and the New York City Democratic Socialists of America.
Ocasio-Cortez’s win is further proof that the Democrats are going hard left.
AAN Staff
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