A former CNBC anchor will challenge New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her congressional seat in 2020.
Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, 53, announced that she would be running as a Democrat in Ocasio-Cortez’s district after filing for the primary on Monday. Ocasio-Cortez, 30, earned her seat in a primary race in 2018 after she defeated incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley.
“I am the daughter and granddaughter of working class Italian and Cuban immigrants,” Caruso-Cabrera said in a statement. “I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful career and I want everybody to have the opportunity that I’ve had. That’s why I’m running.”
On Tuesday morning, she tweeted, “I’m running for NY-14, to fight for the people of Queens & the Bronx, daughter of Cuban immigrants and living the American Dream.”
I’m running for NY-14, to fight for the people of Queens & the Bronx, daughter of Cuban immigrants and living the American Dream ?? https://t.co/DY5eLoCKgL
— Michelle Caruso-Cabrera (@MCaruso_Cabrera) February 11, 2020
Caruso-Cabrera was an anchor on CNBC for more than 20 years as a co-host of Power Lunch and was the network’s chief international correspondent. She left in 2018 but stayed on as a contributor. Her role as a contributor has been suspended until after the election. She was dubbed one of the “100 most influential Hispanics” by Hispanic Business Magazine and “Broadcaster of the Year” by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists in 2004.
In addition to her televised reporting, Caruso-Cabrera wrote a book supporting limited government, titled You Know I’m Right: More Prosperity, Less Government. Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist, has advocated for government-intensive policies, including the Green New Deal, which she authored.
Caruso-Cabrera is one of a dozen people running to bounce Ocasio-Cortez out of Congress. The freshman congresswoman quickly became one of the loudest Democratic voices on Capitol Hill. She endorsed Bernie Sanders for president in 2020 and has joined him as one of his top supporters on the campaign trail. The primary is set for June 23.
