House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Wednesday that progressive upstart Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s primary victory over Rep. Joe Crowley in New York is not a sign that democratic socialism is on the rise in the Democratic Party.
Pelosi said instead that the surprise result is a sign of where the 14th Congressional District in New York was politically, but does not say anything larger about the Democratic Party. She also said Republicans are wrong to make that assertion.
“No, they’re not,” Pelosi told reporters when asked if Republicans are right to say the election is a sign of where Democrats are headed. “It’s ascended in that district, perhaps, but I don’t accept any characterization of our party presented by the Republicans, so let me reject that right now.”
“Our party is a big tent,” Pelosi said. “Our districts are very different one from the other.”
Pelosi lamented the loss of Crowley, the No. 4-ranked Democrat in the House who was viewed as a possible successor to her as Democratic leader. However, she said that the win is a sign of strength for the party.
“It’s a sign of vitality in our party,” Pelosi said. “We’re not a rubber stamp.”
