The two far-left candidates backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lost their primary elections in Texas on Tuesday.
Ocasio-Cortez announced last month that she would be supporting the primary contests of several democratic socialists running against establishment candidates. The New York Democrat endorsed Texas hopefuls Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, a candidate for Senate, and Jessica Cisneros, a primary challenger to Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar.
Ramirez lost to the establishment-backed Senate candidate M.J. Hegar. Hegar, an Air Force veteran, was endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to take on Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Ramirez came in third place in the primary with 13.3% of the vote. The divisive primary featured seven candidates who all received 5% or more of the vote.
Cisneros, a 26-year-old attorney, was gunning for the seat held by Cuellar, one of the moderate Democrats Ocasio-Cortez targeted for his pro-gun policy preferences and “A” rating from the National Rifle Association. Cuellar defeated Cisneros by 4 percentage points, carrying 52% of the vote compared to her 48%.
One other candidate endorsed by Ocasio-Cortez faced a Super Tuesday election. San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez came in second place in her congressional race, earning 18.6% of the vote in her attempt to fill the seat opened by Democratic Rep. Susan Davis’s retirement. She lost to former Hillary Clinton adviser Sara Jacobs, who earned 29.5% of the vote.
Both Democrats will continue on to California’s general election, however, because the state allows the two candidates with the most votes to appear on the November ballot no matter their party affiliation.
Ocasio-Cortez also endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who lost both Texas and his delegate lead to Joe Biden after the former vice president racked up several Super Tuesday victories.
On Wednesday, she tweeted her support for Cisneros following her loss, writing, “I am so incredibly proud of Jessica Cisneros. At 26 years old, she ran for office for the first time to offer TX28 new leadership that fights for workers, gender rights,& a climate agenda. She stood up to Koch brother money & incumbency, & she came closer than anyone imagined.”
I am so incredibly proud of Jessica Cisneros.
At 26 years old, she ran for office for the first time to offer TX28 new leadership that fights for workers, gender rights,& a climate agenda.
She stood up to Koch brother money & incumbency, & she came closer than anyone imagined. https://t.co/3NiBVMfDrf
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 4, 2020
She also commended Ramirez for her race, writing, “Lastly, my heart is also full at the candidacy of @cristinafortx whose race is currently too close to call in the runoff for TX Senate. These women come from backgrounds that typically make running for office inaccessible. They are holding their own & building progressive power.”
Lastly, my heart is also full at the candidacy of @cristinafortx whose race is currently too close to call in the runoff for TX Senate.
These women come from backgrounds that typically make running for office inaccessible. They are holding their own & building progressive power. https://t.co/LgbLQT7xpK
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 4, 2020
The freshman congresswoman shocked many when she bounced high-ranking Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley from his seat in the 2018 primary. She is using her PAC Courage to Change to help other democratic socialists follow in her footsteps.
