Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is an American politician and activist serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, she is a prominent figure in the party's progressive wing and was first elected in the 2018 elections, defeating longtime incumbent Joseph Crowley in a primary upset. Her election to Congress made her the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States House of Representatives.

Early life and education

She was born on October 13, 1989, in the Parkchester neighborhood of The Bronx to Sergio Ocasio-Roman, an architect from the South Bronx, and Blanca Ocasio-Cortez, who was born in Puerto Rico. Her family later moved to Yorktown Heights, New York, a suburb in Westchester County, where she attended Yorktown High School. She graduated *cum laude* from the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and economics.

Early career

Following her graduation, she returned to The Bronx and worked as a waitress and bartender to help support her family after the death of her father. In 2016, she traveled to Flint, Michigan, to assist with the water crisis and later worked as an organizer for Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign in the South Dakota primary. This experience solidified her interest in progressive politics. She subsequently served as the educational director for the National Hispanic Institute and co-founded a publishing firm, Brook Avenue Press, focused on Bronx-themed children's books.

U.S. House of Representatives

She announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in New York's 14th congressional district in 2017, challenging the powerful incumbent and House Democratic Caucus chair, Joseph Crowley. With support from organizations like Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress, she won the 2018 primary in a major political upset. She then defeated Republican nominee Anthony Pappas in the general election. Upon taking office in the 116th United States Congress, she was appointed to the powerful House Oversight and Reform Committee and the House Financial Services Committee. She is a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and has served as the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus Task Forces on Poverty and Opportunity.

Political positions and public image

She is a leading advocate for the Green New Deal, a sweeping congressional resolution she introduced with Senator Ed Markey to address climate change and economic inequality. She is also a vocal proponent of Medicare for All, a federal minimum wage of $15, the abolition of ICE, and tuition-free public college. Her activism, including participation in a 2019 protest at the Speaker's Office, and her adept use of social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter have made her a highly visible and polarizing figure in American politics. She has been both praised by progressive groups like the Sunrise Movement and Democratic Socialists of America, and frequently criticized by conservative media outlets such as Fox News.

Electoral history

In the 2018 Democratic primary for New York's 14th district, she defeated Joseph Crowley with 57.1% of the vote. She won the subsequent general election against Anthony Pappas with 78.2% of the vote. She was reelected in the 2020 election, defeating Republican challenger John Cummings and Conservative candidate Michelle Caruso-Cabrera. In the 2022 election, she won reelection against Republican nominee Tina Forte.

Category:1989 births Category:American women politicians Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) Category:Boston University alumni Category:American democratic socialists Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent Category:Living people