In what is being viewed as one of the most shocking political upsets in recent memory, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated Representative Joseph Crowley [1] in the Democratic primary for New York's 14th Congressional District. This was the 28-year-old candidate's first-ever campaign, and her opponent was a 56-year-old 10-term incumbent. Ocasio-Cortez will now go on to run against Republican candidate Anthony Pappas in the November midterm elections.
Following the election's unexpected outcome, President Donald Trump [2] tweeted his excitement over Crowley's loss [3]. "Big Trump Hater Congressman Joe Crowley, who many expected was going to take Nancy Pelosi's place, just LOST his primary election," he said. Trump did not acknowledge — or was perhaps not aware of — Ocasio-Cortez's progressive left-wing platform. Throughout the election, Ocasio-Cortez criticised media outlets [4] for similarly focusing on her opponent, in addition to not using her name in headlines. Below are some fast facts about the game-changing newcomer whose name everyone will soon know.
- Ocasio-Cortez was born and raised in the Bronx [5] by Puerto Rican-American working-class parents. She cites her family's search for decent public schools — and her eventual attendance at a school 40 minutes away from her home — as being crucial to shaping her understanding of the education system and inequality at a young age.
- The House hopeful studied economics and international relations at Boston University, then went on to work for Senator Ted Kennedy [6]. She specialised in foreign affairs and immigration in his office from 2008 until his death in 2009.
- Ocasio-Cortez moved back to New York and worked at a Mexican restaurant [7], Flats Fix, to help her family financially following the death of her father in 2008. In fact, the restaurant still has a photo of the candidate [8] on its website. Though she continued to work at Flats Fix just before launching her campaign, Ocasio-Cortez also worked as an educator [9] for the National Hispanic Institute.
- She is a member of Democratic Socialists of America and her platform [10] includes the Bernie Sanders-sponsored Medicare For All bill, a federal jobs guarantee, criminal justice reform, gun control, and the abolition of ICE.
- If elected, Ocasio-Cortez will be the youngest woman ever elected to the House of Representatives. Elise Stefanik currently holds that title [11] after she was elected to New York's 21st congressional district in 2015 when she was 30.