"This is a grassroots victory, this is a testament to the power of organizing, this is a testament to the power of knocking on your neighbor's door, of picking up a phone, of believing and taking on power even though they say that it cannot be beaten," Cortez said following her 15-point landslide win.
'Seismic Political Upset': Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a Landslide Over Wall Street Favorite Joe Crowley
"He had the machine. He had the money. He had the power. We had the people. Now we have the power. And we're here to stay... Welcome to the political revolution."
Overcoming a flood of corporate money and New York's powerful establishment machine with tireless grassroots organizing and an ambitious progressive agenda of Medicare for All, housing as a human right, and abolishing ICE, 28-year-old democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez toppled Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district on Tuesday in what is being hailed as the biggest political upset of 2018.
"The message that we sent the world tonight is that it is not okay to put donors before your community."
--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
"This is a grassroots victory, this is a testament to the power of organizing, this is a testament to the power of knocking on your neighbor's door, of picking up a phone, of believing and taking on power even though they say that it cannot be beaten," Ocasio-Cortez said following her 15-point landslide win. "Anything can be accomplished when we knock on our neighbor's door and choose to believe and stand up for our values."
With nearly every vote counted, Ocasio-Cortez defeated Crowley handily, with a margin of 57 percent to 42 percent.
"The message that we sent the world tonight is that it is not okay to put donors before your community," Ocasio-Cortez added in her victory speech late Tuesday. "The message that we sent tonight is that improved and expanded Medicare for All, healthcare for every single person in America is what we deserve as a nation."
Having never run a political campaign before deciding to take on Crowley--a Wall Street favorite viewed by many as the likely successor of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)--Ocasio-Cortez was virtually unknown on the national stage until a viral campaign video and progressive journalists committed to covering her efforts brought widespread attention to her working-class background and inspiring message.
Even though Crowley outraised her by a 10-1 margin and secured the endorsements of New York Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, Ocasio-Cortez's campaign demonstrated that the barriers thrown up by the corporate-political establishment can be overcome with a "strong grassroots movement of organizers" and a bold platform.
"He had the machine. He had the money. He had the power," wrote the advocacy group People for Bernie, highlighting the political figures and well-known organizations that dutifully lined up behind Crowley. "We had the people. Now we have the power. And we're here to stay... Welcome to the political revolution."
As prominent political pundits scrambled to learn about Ocasio-Cortez after ignoring her campaign and message for months, MoveOn.org's elections mobilization director Matt Blizek said the democratic socialist's victory should be a wake-up call to all complacent Democrats who believe that young progressives will stand by and let the status quo go unchallenged.
"She ran in the interest of the people, not corporate developers--Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE, affordable housing, a federal jobs guarantee, wages working families can live and thrive on."
--Nina Turner, Our Revolution
"A young, diverse, and boldly progressive resistance movement isn't waiting to be anointed by the powers that be," Blizek declared in a statement Tuesday night. "Americans from all walks of life who demand change are taking reins of power and showing the Democratic Party what its future looks like."
Nina Turner, president of Our Revolution, argued in a statement that Ocasio-Cortez's victory should be attributed to her energetic and "bold campaign built on substance."
"She ran in the interest of the people, not corporate developers--Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE, affordable housing, a federal jobs guarantee, wages working families can live and thrive on--these are the needs of the working people of New York's 14th, and Alexandria presented a bold set of proposals to serve those needs."
Ocasio-Cortez's upset win in Tuesday's primary all but guarantees that she will become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress--an achievement that she said is just the beginning.
"This is the start of a movement," Ocasio-Cortez declared on Twitter in the early hours of Wednesday morning. "Thank you all."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Overcoming a flood of corporate money and New York's powerful establishment machine with tireless grassroots organizing and an ambitious progressive agenda of Medicare for All, housing as a human right, and abolishing ICE, 28-year-old democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez toppled Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district on Tuesday in what is being hailed as the biggest political upset of 2018.
"The message that we sent the world tonight is that it is not okay to put donors before your community."
--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
"This is a grassroots victory, this is a testament to the power of organizing, this is a testament to the power of knocking on your neighbor's door, of picking up a phone, of believing and taking on power even though they say that it cannot be beaten," Ocasio-Cortez said following her 15-point landslide win. "Anything can be accomplished when we knock on our neighbor's door and choose to believe and stand up for our values."
With nearly every vote counted, Ocasio-Cortez defeated Crowley handily, with a margin of 57 percent to 42 percent.
"The message that we sent the world tonight is that it is not okay to put donors before your community," Ocasio-Cortez added in her victory speech late Tuesday. "The message that we sent tonight is that improved and expanded Medicare for All, healthcare for every single person in America is what we deserve as a nation."
Having never run a political campaign before deciding to take on Crowley--a Wall Street favorite viewed by many as the likely successor of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)--Ocasio-Cortez was virtually unknown on the national stage until a viral campaign video and progressive journalists committed to covering her efforts brought widespread attention to her working-class background and inspiring message.
Even though Crowley outraised her by a 10-1 margin and secured the endorsements of New York Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, Ocasio-Cortez's campaign demonstrated that the barriers thrown up by the corporate-political establishment can be overcome with a "strong grassroots movement of organizers" and a bold platform.
"He had the machine. He had the money. He had the power," wrote the advocacy group People for Bernie, highlighting the political figures and well-known organizations that dutifully lined up behind Crowley. "We had the people. Now we have the power. And we're here to stay... Welcome to the political revolution."
As prominent political pundits scrambled to learn about Ocasio-Cortez after ignoring her campaign and message for months, MoveOn.org's elections mobilization director Matt Blizek said the democratic socialist's victory should be a wake-up call to all complacent Democrats who believe that young progressives will stand by and let the status quo go unchallenged.
"She ran in the interest of the people, not corporate developers--Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE, affordable housing, a federal jobs guarantee, wages working families can live and thrive on."
--Nina Turner, Our Revolution
"A young, diverse, and boldly progressive resistance movement isn't waiting to be anointed by the powers that be," Blizek declared in a statement Tuesday night. "Americans from all walks of life who demand change are taking reins of power and showing the Democratic Party what its future looks like."
Nina Turner, president of Our Revolution, argued in a statement that Ocasio-Cortez's victory should be attributed to her energetic and "bold campaign built on substance."
"She ran in the interest of the people, not corporate developers--Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE, affordable housing, a federal jobs guarantee, wages working families can live and thrive on--these are the needs of the working people of New York's 14th, and Alexandria presented a bold set of proposals to serve those needs."
Ocasio-Cortez's upset win in Tuesday's primary all but guarantees that she will become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress--an achievement that she said is just the beginning.
"This is the start of a movement," Ocasio-Cortez declared on Twitter in the early hours of Wednesday morning. "Thank you all."
Overcoming a flood of corporate money and New York's powerful establishment machine with tireless grassroots organizing and an ambitious progressive agenda of Medicare for All, housing as a human right, and abolishing ICE, 28-year-old democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez toppled Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district on Tuesday in what is being hailed as the biggest political upset of 2018.
"The message that we sent the world tonight is that it is not okay to put donors before your community."
--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
"This is a grassroots victory, this is a testament to the power of organizing, this is a testament to the power of knocking on your neighbor's door, of picking up a phone, of believing and taking on power even though they say that it cannot be beaten," Ocasio-Cortez said following her 15-point landslide win. "Anything can be accomplished when we knock on our neighbor's door and choose to believe and stand up for our values."
With nearly every vote counted, Ocasio-Cortez defeated Crowley handily, with a margin of 57 percent to 42 percent.
"The message that we sent the world tonight is that it is not okay to put donors before your community," Ocasio-Cortez added in her victory speech late Tuesday. "The message that we sent tonight is that improved and expanded Medicare for All, healthcare for every single person in America is what we deserve as a nation."
Having never run a political campaign before deciding to take on Crowley--a Wall Street favorite viewed by many as the likely successor of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)--Ocasio-Cortez was virtually unknown on the national stage until a viral campaign video and progressive journalists committed to covering her efforts brought widespread attention to her working-class background and inspiring message.
Even though Crowley outraised her by a 10-1 margin and secured the endorsements of New York Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, Ocasio-Cortez's campaign demonstrated that the barriers thrown up by the corporate-political establishment can be overcome with a "strong grassroots movement of organizers" and a bold platform.
"He had the machine. He had the money. He had the power," wrote the advocacy group People for Bernie, highlighting the political figures and well-known organizations that dutifully lined up behind Crowley. "We had the people. Now we have the power. And we're here to stay... Welcome to the political revolution."
As prominent political pundits scrambled to learn about Ocasio-Cortez after ignoring her campaign and message for months, MoveOn.org's elections mobilization director Matt Blizek said the democratic socialist's victory should be a wake-up call to all complacent Democrats who believe that young progressives will stand by and let the status quo go unchallenged.
"She ran in the interest of the people, not corporate developers--Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE, affordable housing, a federal jobs guarantee, wages working families can live and thrive on."
--Nina Turner, Our Revolution
"A young, diverse, and boldly progressive resistance movement isn't waiting to be anointed by the powers that be," Blizek declared in a statement Tuesday night. "Americans from all walks of life who demand change are taking reins of power and showing the Democratic Party what its future looks like."
Nina Turner, president of Our Revolution, argued in a statement that Ocasio-Cortez's victory should be attributed to her energetic and "bold campaign built on substance."
"She ran in the interest of the people, not corporate developers--Medicare for All, the abolition of ICE, affordable housing, a federal jobs guarantee, wages working families can live and thrive on--these are the needs of the working people of New York's 14th, and Alexandria presented a bold set of proposals to serve those needs."
Ocasio-Cortez's upset win in Tuesday's primary all but guarantees that she will become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress--an achievement that she said is just the beginning.
"This is the start of a movement," Ocasio-Cortez declared on Twitter in the early hours of Wednesday morning. "Thank you all."