On Saturday, Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez officially kicked off her reelection campaign, asking for support against her 12 primary challengers.
The self-described socialist spoke to over 100 supporters in Queens where she also opened a new election office, urging them to help get out the vote for the June 23 primary.
.@AOC "I am not interested in just showing up every two years to ask our community for your vote. I am interested in making deep investments in the Bronx and in Queens." https://t.co/sEPppLTmsZ
— News12BX (@News12BX) February 16, 2020
AOC Tries to Rally Her Troops
“We have some really ambitious goals,” she said. “Last election cycle, in the primary as we know, the turnout was quite low … 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.”
AOC is famously part of the socialist “squad,” in the House that also includes Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley. This group has constantly tried to push Democrats further left and has even challenged Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Ocasio-Cortez has become a national figure by making headlines with her socialist policies and hard left rhetoric.
One High Profile Challenger is a Former CNBC Anchor
The latest challenger to hop in the race against Ocasio-Cortez is former CNBC anchor Michelle Cabruso-Cabrera.
“I am the daughter and granddaughter of working class Italian and Cuban immigrants,” Cabruso-Cabrera said in a statment. “I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful career and I want everybody to have the opportunity that I’ve had. That’s why I’m running.”
I'm running for NY-14, to fight for the people of Queens & the Bronx, daughter of Cuban immigrants and living the American Dream ?? https://t.co/DY5eLoCKgL
— Michelle Caruso-Cabrera (@MCaruso_Cabrera) February 11, 2020
RELATED: Former CNBC Anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera To Challenge Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
She Says She Does Not Have a Problem with Anyone Challenging Her
AOC popped up unexpectedly in 2018 to take the Democratic nomination away from the more prominent, powerful and established, Rep. Joe Crowley. It shocked her district and the political world.
Ocasio-Cortez says she does not begrudge her challengers given her own path to her seat.
“I think everyone has a right [to run],” she said. “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.”
According to OpenSecrets.org, Ocasio-Cortez has raised $5.3 million for her campaign.