Los Angeles

Ocasio-Cortez, the 28-year-old Insurgent Democrat, Holds Fundraiser in Los Angeles

A year removed from working as a barista at a Bronx coffee shop, New York Democratic congressional nominee Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a fundraising luncheon in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday for her New York congressional campaign.

Ocasio-Cortez was in Northern California Tuesday as part of her third trip outside of New York in three weeks. She began her day in Stockton, meeting with Mayor Michael Tubbs, two days before his 28th birthday.

"We talked about the similarities between her district and Stockton, about increasing opportunity, and basic income," Tubbs tweeted, referring to his city's privately funded Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration pilot program, which will provide at least 100 residents with a guaranteed income of $500 per month for 18 months. "We also talked about the inspiration provided by Dr. King's ideology."

Ocasio-Cortez then "sat down with Walmart & Toys R Us workers to talk about the path forward for retail labor in the US," she tweeted.

Ocasio-Cortez hosted two fundraisers in San Francisco later Tuesday.

The 28-year-old self-described democratic socialist defeated 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley in the June 26 Democratic primary in New York's 14th Congressional District, which consists of portions of the New York City boroughs of the Bronx and Queens. Crowley is the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the fourth-highest ranking position in House Democratic Leadership.

Ocasio-Cortez is virtually certain to be elected in November in the overwhelmingly Democratic district, which would make her the youngest woman elected to Congress. She will turn 29 on Oct. 13.

Ocasio-Cortez's platform includes supporting "Medicare For All," abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, making public colleges and trade schools tuition-free and reforming "campaign finance laws that undermine democracy for the benefit of corporate interests."

After graduating cum laude from Boston University's College of Arts and Sciences in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in economics and international relations, Ocasio-Cortez worked as a bartender and a waitress in New York City; established a publishing firm, Brook Avenue Press, that specializes in children's literature that portrays the Bronx in a positive light. She was also an educator.

Ocasio-Cortez worked as an organizer for Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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