Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed frustration that she and her closer allies in the party were not brought in to help secure a Democratic victory in Virginia earlier in the month.
“Before the Virginia elections, it was very clear that our help and our participation was not wanted or asked for. I think it’s just sad. I think it was a mistake,” Ocasio-Cortez stated in a New York Times article published Sunday.
“We saw a big youth turnout collapse. Not a single person asked me to send an e-mail, not even to my own list. And then they turn around and say ‘It’s their fault.’ When I think it was communicated quite expressly that we were unwelcome to pitch in,” she continued.
Republican Glenn Youngkin beat Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe in an upset in the Virginia gubernatorial race.
“I think that the results show the limits of trying to run a fully 100% super moderated campaign that does not excite, speak to or energize a progressive base,” Ocasio-Cortez said of the particular election. (RELATED: Youngkin Beats McAuliffe, Clinching First Statewide Win In Virginia For Republicans Since 2009)
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia blamed some in the party for holding up the $1 trillion infrastructure bill until a large social spending package was passed. Warner believed that if the infrastructure bill had been passed before the election it would have made a difference in the outcome.
“I think if we could have been talking about that win and showing the kind of job creation that actually has been taking place, things might have been different,” he said. (RELATED: The Far Left Sabotaged The Democratic Party By Making Demands, Says Whoopi Goldberg)
“This all goes back to a lack of effective communication from the White House,” Democratic strategist Colin Strother said of the Virginia election. “We are not going to win this thing with the president in Delaware, the vice president missing in action, and our secretaries on personal leave …Everything they are doing or not doing is impacting our chances in 2022.”
Youngkin made parental involvement in the education of their children one of his main points during his campaign, particularly in the final weeks. Some polls indicate that it had a big impact with voters.
Ocasio-Cortez believes that if she and her closer allies in the party had been able to assist in generating excitement for the Virginia race, the results could have been better for Democrats.
“The idea that we just accept a collapse in youth-turn out — and essentially turning it into a self-fulfilling prophecy — in times when races are decided by such narrow margin points: I think it’s ill advised,” she said.
