Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, born October 13, 1989), also known by her initials AOC, is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district. The district includes the eastern part of the Bronx, portions of north-central Queens, and Rikers Island in New York City. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Ocasio-Cortez drew national recognition when she won the Democratic Party's primary election for New York's 14th congressional district on June 26, 2018. She defeated Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley, a 10-term incumbent, in what was widely seen as the biggest upset victory in the 2018 midterm election primaries. She defeated Republican opponent Anthony Pappas in the November 6, 2018 general election.
Taking office at age 29, Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress. She has been noted for her substantial social media presence relative to her fellow members of Congress. Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she double-majored in international relations and economics, graduating cum laude in 2011. She was previously an activist and worked as a waitress and bartender before running for Congress in 2018.
Ocasio-Cortez is among the first female members of the Democratic Socialists of America elected to serve in Congress. She advocates a progressive platform that includes Medicare for All, a federal jobs guarantee, the Green New Deal, and abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Expand the court. Republicans do this because they don’t believe Dems have the stones to play hardball like they do. And for a long time they’ve been correct. But do not let them bully the public into thinking their bulldozing is normal but a response isn’t. There is a legal process for expansion.”
“[The Green New Deal is the] best tangible, concrete expression of the kind of economics and politics that we were fighting for and trying to develop.”
“The term 'cancel culture' comes from entitlement - as though the person complaining has the right to a large, captive audience,& one is a victim if people choose to tune them out. Odds are you’re not actually cancelled, you’re just being challenged, held accountable, or unliked.”
“People who are actually “cancelled” don’t get their thoughts published and amplified in major outlets. This has been a public service announcement. The term “cancel culture” comes from entitlement - as though the person complaining has the right to a large, captive audience,& one is a victim if people choose to tune them out. Odds are you’re not actually cancelled, you’re just being challenged, held accountable, or unliked. Many of the people actually “cancelled” are those long denied a fair hearing of their ideas to begin w/: Palestinian human rights advocates, Abolitionists, Anti capitalists, Anti-imperialists. Not spicy “contrarians” who want to play devils advocate w/ your basic rights in the NYT”
“Right now, due to COVID-19. It's best for us to stay home. But that doesn't mean that our vote can't still go out. Mailing in an absentee ballot is one of the safest ways that we can vote this year, and what's great is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home.”
“Now is the time to create millions of good jobs building out the infrastructure and clean energy necessary to save our planet for future generations.For our economy, our planet, and our future, we need a #GreenNewDeal.”
“It wasn't until I heard of a man by the name of Bernie Sanders that I began to question and assert and recognize my inherent value as a human being that deserves health care, housing, education, and a living wage.”
Representative for New York's 14th congressional district
“It may be shocking to some, but being someone’s daughter actually isn’t a career qualification. It hurts our diplomatic standing when the president phones it in & the world moves on”
“Our country has a “justice” system that criminalizes poverty + disproportionately targets race, yet routinely pardons large-scale crimes of wealth and privilege.”
“We have to decide whether we're going to pay to react or pay to be proactive. I can tell you now, the cost of pursuing a Green New Deal will be far less than the cost of not passing it.”
“Basically, there’s a scientific consensus that the lives of children are going to be very difficult. And it does lead, I think, young people to have a legitimate question: Is it okay to still have children?”
U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district
“Investing in sustainable farming and land use practices that increase soil health”; and “building a more sustainable food system that ensures universal access to healthy food”
Congressional Representative for the 14th District of the state of New York
“The biggest update to the original Green New Deal blueprint is that Ocasio-Cortez is now calling for the U.S. to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Her previous proposal simply called for “eliminating” the emissions from the transportation, agriculture and industrial sectors.”
