Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: A profile
Politics
Why is she so famous?
Born and bred in Bronx borough of New York City, while waiting tables and bartending, then 28 years old Ocasio-Cortez, popularly known as AOC, ran a campaign against Rep. Joseph Crowley in Democratic Party's primary election for New York's 14th congressional district.
Although she was the first person since 2004 to challenge Joe in primary, and despite the fact that Crowley raised roughly $3M more than her, she ultimately ousted him on June 26, 2018.
What was unique about her campaign?
1. Source Of Campaign Money
Her campaign attracted both local and national support. Ocasio-Cortez tailored her campaign to underrepresented constituencies such as Latino and younger voters.
Hailing from a working-class family, her words in her campaign video were "Women like me aren't supposed to run for office, I wasn't born to a wealthy or powerful family." Having said this, she vowed not to take money from corporate political action committees (PACs) while running for office and criticized her Democratic opponent for doing so.
2. Focus on Change
Ocasio-Cortez’s message was perhaps able to resonate so strongly with voters in the district because this was, in the words of the Democratic source, a “change election.” She was the only progressive primary challenger to defeat an incumbent in New York City.
Not only this, but she amazed everyone through a turnout spike among younger voters.
As an activist, championing Medicare for All and a Green New Deal were major tenants of her campaign.
3. Digital Influence
Ocasio-Cortez had indeed been canvassing and campaigning for nearly a year, and had a strong presence on social media. Her team knew that digital is not the future but the present as well.
If yard signs are considered a traditional marker of electoral enthusiasm, tweets are their new equivalent – and Ocasio-Cortez built a large following on social media, and had many enthusiastic supporters online. Even before the election, she had surpassed Crowley in Twitter followers.
The AOC Effect
She was reelected in the 2020 election, defeating John Cummings, taking office at age 29, and thus becoming the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress.
She has championed equality for all, been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, advocated for a federal jobs guarantee, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, The Green New Deal for climate change, and most recently, called out the prevalent sexism in politics and our society.
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