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.”

Trump’s Iran gamble divides GOP hawks and ‘America First’ conservatives over what victory looks like

College sports sees pivotal moment as Senate looks to move legislation on NIL, transfers across goal line

New Report Says Major School System Hid Admissions Data Defying Supreme Court

Perverted: Meal Kit Company Runs Gross Pride Month Ad, Offering Recipes to Aid Vile Sex Act

FAA investigates after incoming plane executes go-around due to aircraft leaving from intersecting runway

Responders put out explosive blaze at fireworks stand in Oklahoma

Obama Center visitors say project symbolic of ‘Black excellence,’ claim scandal-free legacy while Trump ripped

Trump administration probe could upend widely used transgender youth treatment guidelines

Chinese AI models raise ‘sleeper agent’ fears after report finds more vulnerable code for US users

Angel Dads face another Father’s Day without children killed by illegal immigrants: ‘She should be graduating’

Trump’s contracting controversies in the spotlight following no-bid Reflecting Pool deal

Can Ed Hale, a former Democrat, rebuild the Larry Hogan coalition in Maryland?

JD Vance arrives in Switzerland to join Kushner and Witkoff for new round of Iran negotiations

Trump says much of water in Reflecting Pool likely to be drained: ‘Necessary repairs’

Pope Leo sends unmistakable message on immigrants during visit honoring America’s first saint

“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.