Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (born October 13, 1989) is an American educator, political activist and politician. A supporter of progressive presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in the 2016 election, and an advocate of many of Sanders left-wing policies, Ocasio-Cortez in 2018 entered the Democratic Party primary race for U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district, and defeated 19-year incumbent Joseph Crowley, considered the fourth most-powerful Democrat in Congress, on June 26, 2018. A major political upset, her victory has been compared to the defeat of GOP House leader Eric Cantor by a Tea Party primary challenger. She was backed by several progressive organizations including Brand New Congress, Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, and Democracy for America.
