Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could be the future of the Democratic Party.
The 31-year-old New York Democrat was thrust almost immediately into the spotlight after her upset victory against 20-year incumbent Joe Crowley in 2018. Her largely grassroots campaign focused on bringing a new economic message to New York’s 14th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens.
Ocasio-Cortez was a bartender before she embarked on her political career and openly describes herself as a democratic socialist. In her short tenure in the House, Ocasio-Cortez has laid out an ambitious vision for the future of the country, advocating for plans such as the Green New Deal, a nationalized healthcare system, and nationwide rent control.
Ocasio-Cortez, who initially endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for president, has been one of the most vocal activists in encouraging people to vote President Trump out in November. With a strong social media presence, Ocasio-Cortez has warned her supporters not only to vote Democratic in 2020 but also not to get complacent if they turn out a victory.
“After we work to command victory in November, I need folks to realize that there’s no going back to brunch,” she said in a Twitter video.
Ocasio-Cortez was part of the historic class of 111 freshmen lawmakers that welcomed more women and racially diverse members than any other time in history. She also became known as a member of the ‘Squad,’ which consists of four progressive congresswomen who resemble a new generation of lawmakers, both in their identity and political vision.
Republicans and conservative pundits often take aim at Ocasio-Cortez for what they deem as her radical ideas, but she’s also strayed some from older, traditional members of the Democratic leadership, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Trump and other Republican candidates have often used Ocasio-Cortez as an example of what the country could look like under Democratic control, painting a comparison of the United States to countries like Venezuela and Cuba.
Though a popular figure among the electorate who have shifted further left, some centrist Democrats have also distanced themselves from Ocasio-Cortez to hold on to their more conservative supporters.
Her small role at the Democratic National Convention this summer was noticed, but to some, it was seen as a big mistake for the party.
“AOC is the personification of the future of the party, but the traditional Dems have always struggled to keep up, motivate, and inspire,” said Natalia Salgado, chief of civic engagement at the Center for Popular Democracy. “If they understood what they need to do to turn out our communities, they would have had AOC front and center.”
