Who Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? Democratic Socialist Who Wants to Abolish ICE Unseats 'Next Speaker' Joe Crowley

In one of the largest campaign upsets in years, 28-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Bronx-born Democratic Socialist, beat Representative Joe Crowley, the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House in New York's Democratic primaries Tuesday night.

Ocasio-Cortez cinched the nomination with just $600,000 cash on hand, compared with Crowley's $3 million. Crowley has served in the House since 1999 and this is the first time he has been primaried in 14 years.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi issued a statement acknowledged the work that Representative Crowley had done for the Democratic party and thanked him, at the end of the statement she tacked on one line congratulating Ocasio-Cortez on her victory.

.@RepJoeCrowley has been an unwavering champion for America’s working families for almost two decades. I salute Chairman Crowley for a formidable legacy of achievement for the people of New York & congratulate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on her victory. https://t.co/QJtQWMih2n

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 27, 2018

Here are five things you might not know about Ocasio-Cortez.

She's a socialist who worked for Senator Bernie Sanders

Ocasio-Cortez is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America who campaigned on behalf of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential election. When asked about her far-left political views, she told The Cut that, "It's really scary or it's easy to generate fear around an idea or around an -ism when you don't provide any substance to it. I believe that every American should have stable, dignified housing; health care; education—that the most very basic needs to sustain modern life should be guaranteed in a moral society."

She wants to abolish ICE

Just one week before her contentious race in New York, Ocasio-Cortez flew down to Texas to protest child detention camps. "The child detention camps are here—I confronted the border officers myself. Using their names, I told them exactly what they are responsible for. One of them made eye contact with me. I spoke directly to him. I saw his sense of guilt. We can dismantle this," she Tweeted before adding "#AbolishICE."

In an interview with Vogue, Ocasio-Cortez explained that, "When I talk about the abolishment of ICE, it is not a fringe position. [ICE] was established in 2003 in a suite of legislation that almost everybody recognizes as a mistake. People recognize the Patriot Act as a mistake. They regret voting for the AUMF [Authorization to Use Military Force], they regret the Iraq War, and DHS [the Department of Homeland Security], and ICE were right in there with all of that legislation."

The child detention camps are here - I confronted the border officers myself.

Using their names, I told them exactly what they are responsible for.

One of them made eye contact with me.
I spoke directly to him.
I saw his sense of guilt.
We can dismantle this.#AbolishICE pic.twitter.com/QLyc9MAnkt

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 24, 2018

She's partnering with Cynthia Nixon

Ocasio-Cortez and Nixon have collaborated on their fight to abolish ICE and limit jail time for non-violent drug crimes.

"The only way that you beat a machine is with a movement and the only way that this movement can sustain is if we start in good faith on shared values of a New York citizen. I think that is where Cynthia and I come together," she told The Cut. "I very much value the work and the impact that she has already made, due to the fact that she can go on The View and talk about abolishing ICE. What we can do is tag-team this message so that every community can hear it that needs to hear it. And I think that that kind of solidarity across lines is very, very powerful."

President Donald Trump is happy with her win

Representative Joe Crowley is a powerful Democrat who was floated as a potential future Speaker of the House. President Donald Trump was happy to see him go, and Tweeted about his loss moments after it happened. "Wow! Big Trump Hater Congressman Joe Crowley, who many expected was going to take Nancy Pelosi's place, just LOST his primary election," he wrote. "In other words, he's out! That is a big one that nobody saw happening. Perhaps he should have been nicer, and more respectful, to his President!"

Wow! Big Trump Hater Congressman Joe Crowley, who many expected was going to take Nancy Pelosi’s place, just LOST his primary election. In other words, he’s out! That is a big one that nobody saw happening. Perhaps he should have been nicer, and more respectful, to his President!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2018

She's the first woman of color to run in her district

People of color make up roughly 70 percent of New York's 14th district, which is something that Ocasio-Cortez stressed in her campaigning. Crowley is the son and grandson of Irish immigrants, she pointed out, and doesn't represent the people of his district.

When Crowley sent a Latina surrogate to debate Ocasio-Cortez, she was quick to point out the hypocrisy.

GettyImages-982939278
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is embraced at the Tornillo-Guadalupe port of entry gate on June 24, 2018 in Tornillo, Texas. She is part of a group protesting the separation of children from their parents after they were... Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Uncommon Knowledge

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Nicole Goodkind is a political reporter with a focus on Congress. She previously worked as a reporter for Yahoo Finance, ... Read more

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