AOC To Be To Face Lots Of Competition For Her Seat

Despite her massive national media presence, it appears U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., isn’t taking reelection for granted.

At a Saturday kickoff event in her bid for a second term, the far-left freshman congresswoman told supporters she wanted to see voter turnout in New York’s 14th Congressional District increase by “four times” over her previous run in 2018.

No fewer than 12 Democrats have filed in the district to run against Ocasio-Cortez in the primary election on June 23, according to radio station WINS of New York City. In addition, at least three Republicans will vie for a chance to ultimately win the seat.

“Last election cycle, in the primary as we know, the turnout was quite low,” she told a small crowd in Corona, Queens. “This year, we want to multiply turnout by four times. That’s our goal. We want to secure 60,000 votes in the primary election. We need to start creating a turnout machine right now.”

ICE says 2 demonstrators were arrested in Minnesota for allegedly assaulting officers

Anti-ICE mob storms Minnesota church over pastor’s alleged ties to immigration enforcement

Nancy Pelosi faces social media backlash over behavior at Bob Weir tribute event

Newsom defies Trump administration, declares free parks for MLK Day

Kurdish SDF forces agree to ceasefire with Syrian government after offensive

Texas couple labeled fake ‘Chip and Joanna Gaines’ admits $5M dream home renovation scam

Wife of former American detainee released after more than a year in Venezuelan prison

Why Trump zeroed in on Greenland and why it matters in 3 maps

California man kills wife, teen daughter in murder-suicide: authorities

St. Louis Calls Off Search for Band of Monkeys Allegedly Accompanied by a Goat After AI Images Flood Social Media

Nobel Foundation weighs in after Machado presents Peace Prize to Trump

Leftist with ‘Any Pronouns’ Arrested for Assassination Threats Against Conservatives on Campus

‘Driver’s Licenses for All’: Minnesota’s Dangerous Surrender of the Rule of Law

Blue State Raids ‘Emergency’ Funds to Pay Off Student Loans, Could Fuel ‘Unsustainable’ Borrowing

California Mom Convicted of Murder After Drinking and Going Online for Dates as Daughter Drowned

“This year, we want to multiply turnout by four times. That’s our goal. We want to secure 60,000 votes in the primary election. We need to start creating a turnout machine right now.”

— U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

Ocasio-Cortez, 30, sent shockwaves through the political world in 2018 when she defeated longtime Democratic incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in the primary. Prior to his defeat, Crowley was considered in the running to become House speaker if the Democrats recaptured the chamber that November, which they did. (Instead, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, who had been speaker from 2007-2011, regained the gavel.)

The possibility that Ocasio-Cortez could be “primaried” herself, just like Crowley, apparently hasn’t been lost on the member of the so-called “Squad” of freshmen Democrats.

“I think everyone has a right [to run],” she said, according to the New York Post. “I, of course, won my seat with a primary. I would never begrudge anyone trying to run in a primary. I’m committed to organizing.”

“I think everyone has a right [to run for office]. I, of course, won my seat with a primary. I would never begrudge anyone trying to run in a primary. I’m committed to organizing.”

— U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

Ocasio-Cortez is considered difficult to beat. In addition to national media attention, she also amassed more than $5.3 million in campaign funds by the end of 2019, according to OpenSecrets.org.

But the progressive lawmaker has also irritated many Democrats – particularly by being openly hostile toward so-called “establishment” members of the party, the moderate incumbents who tend to drive party decisions, and backing more progressive colleagues and candidates like herself.

In January, Fox News reported that Ocasio-Cortez was building her own fundraising operation for fellow progressives – candidates who would run against moderate incumbents in hopes of replicating her victory over Crowley.