Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is imploring Democrats to contest future primary elections against incumbents to encourage diversity among the caucus and shift the party to the left.
“All Americans know money in politics is a huge problem, but unfortunately the way that we fix it is by demanding that our incumbents give it up or by running fierce campaigns ourselves,” Ocasio-Cortez said Saturday during an organizing call hosted by Justice Democrats, according to multiple outlets. “That’s really what we need to do to save this country. That’s just what it is.”
Justice Democrats’ call with about 700 activists was held in conjunction with the launch of its “#OurTime” campaign, which is asking members to suggest potential target districts and candidates for the 2020 election cycle.
Justice Democrats credits itself with helping Ocasio-Cortez sweep into power, which began when she defeated 10-term congressman, Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., during their June primary. The group advocates for more liberal agenda items, including introducing “Medicare for all,” dismantling the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, and refusing to accept corporate campaign donations.
Other darlings of the grassroots organization include Rep.-elects Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.
Saikat Chakrabarti, Ocasio-Cortez’ incoming chief of staff and co-founder of Justice Democrats, said on Saturday’s call that new leaders were needed within the party.
“There are some good people who want to push for stuff, but they don’t have the backup right now to do anything big,” Chakrabarti said, Politico and Huffington Post reported. “We gotta primary folks.”
Although freshmen members of Congress do not usually talk so openly about unseating more established lawmakers, Ocasio-Cortez shunned orthodoxy last week when she showed her support for a sit-in protest outside the office of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., over environmental policies.
