Progressive star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., backed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in her bid for the speakership.
In a series of tweets Wednesday, the 29-year-old said as long as Pelosi remains the most progressive candidate for speaker, she can count on Ocasio-Cortez’s support.
“All the challenges to Leader Pelosi are coming from her right, in an apparent effort to make the party even more conservative and bent toward corporate interests,” she wrote.
“Hard pass. So long as Leader Pelosi remains the most progressive candidate for Speaker, she can count on my support.”
All the challenges to Leader Pelosi are coming from her right, in an apparent effort to make the party even more conservative and bent toward corporate interests.
Hard pass. So long as Leader Pelosi remains the most progressive candidate for Speaker, she can count on my support. https://t.co/yNVa8IorWY
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 21, 2018
Ocasio-Cortez noted that it’s important for Democratic Party leadership to be more diverse, but electing someone only for the sake of changing leadership, but who doesn’t reflect the constituents they represent, would be a different leader “with the same problems,” she said.
I agree that our party should, and must, evolve our leadership.
But changed leadership should reflect an actual, evolved mission; namely, an increased commitment to the middle + working class electorate that put us here.
Otherwise it’s a just new figure with the same problems.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 21, 2018
“There are many issues where the Leader and I disagree,” she added. “Yet we need leadership to be more daring, not less. Her challengers are conservative.”
There are many issues where the Leader and I disagree.
I was one of only 2 Dems (w/ @RoKhanna) to go on the record to call the proposed tax rule & PAYGO a bad idea.
Yet, we need leadership to be more daring, not less. Her challengers are conservative.https://t.co/eOkxvZCxPM
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 21, 2018
The endorsement comes a day after potential challenger Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, turned on defectors and endorsed the top Democrat. On Wednesday, Pelosi turned another defector in her favor, New York Rep. Brian Higgins, who had signed a letter just two days pilot vowing to vote against her.
Fifteen other Democrats are still vowing to oppose Pelosi on the House floor.
