Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

  • New York Left Hits Wall in Primaries, Points to Reasons for Optimism

    Jumaane Williams (photo: John McCarten/City Coucnil)


    Last month’s primary election was a disappointing one for progressive Democrats in New York, as statewide and Assembly candidates lost to incumbents across the board with few consolation victories. It was a markedly different election than four years ago, when a progressive wave shifted the political landscape, contributed to a Democratic takeover of the State Senate, and helped deliver a long list of liberal policy priorities at the state level.

    But even as progressives had an especially disappointing set of primaries, including in

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  • Redistricting and Latinos in New York

    Rep. Nydia Velázquez (photo: Ian Douglass/Waterfronts)


    The New York State Legislature has passed, and Governor Hochul has signed, new district maps for the House of Representatives, the State Assembly, and the State Senate. What do these new lines mean for Latino representation?

    While space limitations prohibit me from providing an exhaustive analysis, several new district lines are worth noting. Let us begin with Congress.

    Of all New York City’s four congressional districts represented by

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  • WATCH: Ocasio-Cortez Debates Democratic Primary Challengers in New York's 14th Congressional District

    aoc podium

    Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (photo: ocasiocortez.com)


    Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of Queens and the Bronx faced three Democratic primary opponents in a Monday evening debate hosted by BronxNet TV and the League of Women Voters of New York State. Ocasio-Cortez, running for reelection for the first time after stunning the world in 2018 by unseating Rep. Joe Crowley in New York's 14th Congressional District, debated opponents Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Badrun N. Khan, and Samuel H. Sloan. The debate was moderated by BronxTalk host Gary

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  • For the Future of Our Communities, Labor Support for The Green New Deal

    green new deal via sunrise movement

    (photo: @sunrisemvmt)


    Four years ago, the New York climate march brought 300,000 people to the streets of Manhattan to demand action from national and world leaders. Marching in New York City with my family, we witnessed how thousands of people from all walks of life filled the streets with energy, passion, and hope for a better future for our children and grandchildren. 32BJ SEIU, the labor union I am honored to lead, played a vital part in the People’s Climate March because our members live and work in communities that are

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  • Key Takeaways from Ocasio-Cortez's Victory

    ocasio cortez campaiging

    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaigning (photo: @Ocasio2018)


    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory seems to be misunderstood in a number of ways. First, it is hard to say that it was representative of Democratic Party supporters in the district. Suppose we measure the Democratic Party voters by Crowley’s vote total in the 2016 Congressional election, when he faced no primary opponent and a nominal general election foe (Crowley won 83

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  • Why Chuck Schumer Should Fear the Election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

    chuck schumer phone

    Senator Schumer on a tele-town hall (photo: @SenSchumer)


    Pay heed Chuck Schumer. The base is coming for you.

    And for good reason. The Democratic establishment is historically unpopular. And there is no exception even in deep blue New York.

    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s resounding defeat of Rep. Joe Crowley, the so-called King of the Queens machine, makes clear that establishment Democrats need to wake up. The election of an overnight socialist sensation was a clear demonstration that the groundswell of grassroots progressive activism in New

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  • Assembly Race Poses Another Test for Queens Machine

    catalina cruz parade Queens

    Catalina Cruz (photo: @CatalinaCruzNY)


    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Democratic primary victory over Rep. Joe Crowley last month in New York’s 14th congressional district sent shockwaves throughout the country and signalled a monumental shift in Queens politics, where the Crowley-led county party has held significant sway in local elections for many years. The effects of Ocasio-Cortez’s win and Crowley’s loss, both nationally and locally, are still developing, but reverberations are certainly being felt in the already-competitive Democratic primary for New York

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  • Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic Socialists Boost Each Other

    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez NYC DSA socialism

    Ocasio-Cortez and DSA (image: NYC DSA)


    Donald Trump was a boon to the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA. The organization, founded in the early 1970s, had comfortably maintained between 5,000 and 10,000 members for most of its existence. But on the first day following Trump’s victory in the 2016 election, over 1,000 individuals joined DSA. Between November 2016 and July 2017, DSA gained over 13,000 new members. As of now, there are over 30,000 Democratic Socialists of America, and, after a shocking upset in last Tuesday’s New

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  • A Closer Look at Voter Turnout in 2018 New York Congressional Primaries

    joe crowley voting

    Rep. Joe Crowley votes (photo: @JoeCrowleyNY)


    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s upset primary defeat of Representative Joe Crowley has sent shockwaves through both the New York and national political worlds.

    The 28-year-old Latina democratic-socialist who has never held elected office and refused money from corporate PACs stood in stark contrast to Crowley, a 56-year-old, ten-term Congressional representative who was a prolific Democratic Party fundraiser, served as the chair of the Queens Democratic Party, and was seen by some as the next Democratic Speaker of the

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  • Ocasio-Cortez Upsets Crowley, Donovan Defeats Grimm & Other 2018 New York Congressional Primary Results

    ocasio-cortez campaign buttons

    Ocasio-Cortez campaign buttons (image via @Ocasio2018)


    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old self-identified democratic socialist, unseated 10-term Congressional representative and Queens Democratic Party leader Joe Crowley in a dramatic upset quickly having ripple effects both locally and nationally. And she won handily, by about 4,000 votes and a 57.5 to 42.5 percent margin.

    Crowley entered the House in 1999 and maintained a largely center-left voting record; he was seen as a strong contender to become the next Democratic Speaker of the House,

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