Alexandria Ocasio Cortez; Who is She Exactly?

By Angelirene Cuautle

By now she’s a household name. Don’t know who she is? You will soon!

HPCMS, the Big Cafeteria - Do you know who Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is?

“Hm, no,” responded Adeline Heckler, a 7th grader from class 703. “I don’t really know who she is.”

“Nope,” stated Matthew Trotta a 7th grader from class 703.

“No, I don’t actually,” answered Mia Fernandez a 6th grader from 602.

In fact, most students that I asked didn’t know who she was. And some of these same kids live in her congressional district. So, I’ve learned that it might be important for middle schoolers to learn about her.

Here we go! Who is Alexandria Ocasio Cortez?

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is a young and upcoming progressive Democrat who won the 14th congressional district in New York City. She is the youngest female congressional member who was only 28 when she won in November, first entering the political scene while campaigning for Bernie Sanders. She represents parts of the Bronx and Queens where it’s estimated that 50% of the population are immigrants and where 70% of residents are Hispanic estimates CNBC. This matters because she herself has roots in Puerto Rico.

She beat former congressman Joe Crowley, gaining support of 78% of voters recorded NBC news. She won by gaining support from some left leaning organizations and really getting herself and her ideas out there.

How does she gain support? Through social media, with approximately 2.44 million followers on twitter and 1.8 million followers on Instagram. She has used this platform to become more relatable to the youth and to be closer to voters. She posts constantly on Instagram and even more on Twitter. My personal favorite tweets are when she hits someone with a comeback after trying to take her down.

Not only are her social media posts relatable but the way she grew up also relates to a lot of people. In an article about Alexandria Cortez from Biography, it talked about her life before politics. This Bronx Native grew up with in a working class family with her Puerto Rican Mom and Bronx native dad. She went to Boston University where she studied Economics and International Relations. But after, she had to take up bartending and waitressing to help her mother after her father died from cancer. Less than a year ago she was working as a bartender.

She truly understands the people’s needs and wants, and though some people may consider her ideas very liberal, at least she clearly shows where she stands.