Socialist darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is leveraging her newly acquired political capital to weigh in on other congressional races around the country — and her own party may take issue with the races she is choosing to influence.
On July 21, Ocasio-Cortez will attend two events for Democrat Cori Bush (location and time to be determined), a registered nurse and an ordained minister. Bush also happens to be running in the primary for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District against Democratic seven-term incumbent Rep. William “Lacy” Clay Jr.
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ STUMPS FOR CORI BUSH FOR CONGRESS!!
July 21st 6 pm – 8 pm, location TBA. It’s Cori’s birthday and GOTV. Join the fun, meet @Ocasio2018, and help us excite voters to the polls for Aug. 7th!
Speakers include:
@brucefranksjr MO State Rep 78th@MobilizeMO pic.twitter.com/QZdLe2yRqk— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) July 11, 2018
Bush has also earned the endorsement of Brand New Congress, a PAC started by staffers from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign.
In a tumultuous election year where every seat in every chamber matters, it may not sit well with the ranking members of her party that Ocasio-Cortez is so willing to undermine well-established Democrats in favor of unknown quantities.
Much like New York’s 14th district, which Ocasio-Cortez wrested from 10-term incumbent — and potential House leader — Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, Missouri District 1 is solidly Democratic and in no danger of being flipped. Clay Jr. has held the seat since 2001 — never earning less than 70 percent of the vote.
From 1969-2001, the seat had belonged to his father, Democrat William “Bill” Lacy Clay Sr, and the seat has not been occupied by a Republican since Samuel W. Arnold, who left office in 1949.
Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic Socialist from the Bronx, has clearly decided to use her newfound fame to promote others who share her views, even if it means upsetting her party from the inside.