Who is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was born in 1989 and represents New York's 14th congressional district, covering parts of the Bronx and Queens. She won the seat in 2018 after defeating a senior Democratic incumbent in the primary and is in her fourth term. She serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and previously served on the Financial Services, Natural Resources and Oversight committees. She won her June 2026 Democratic primary against two challengers and faces Republican Diamant Hysenaj in the November 2026 general election. In 2025 she joined Bernie Sanders on his Fighting Oligarchy tour. In September 2026 she toured Buffalo, Ithaca and Syracuse to boost Democratic turnout; she has expressed interest in both a Senate and a presidential run but has not announced a decision.
Previously: Member, House Energy and Commerce Committee (since 2025) · Member, House Oversight Committee (2019-2025) · Member, House Financial Services Committee (2019-2023)
Documented positions
- Co-authored the Green New Deal resolution with Senator Ed Markey, reintroduced in April 2021, which sets a goal of net-zero emissions and a shift away from fossil fuels.Source: cbsnews.com
- Co-sponsored the Housing Is a Human Right Act of 2025, aimed at the root causes of homelessness.Source: govinfo.gov
- Co-sponsored the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act in March 2026 to pause new AI data center construction until national safeguards exist.Source: wcax.com
- Co-sponsored the bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act in 2023 to bar members of Congress from owning and trading individual stocks.Source: 10news.com
- Was the only House Democrat to vote against a January 2019 bill to reopen the government because it funded Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Source: nbcnews.com
- Voted in July 2025 against an amendment to cut $500 million for Israel's Iron Dome, saying it did not end offensive arms flows used in Gaza.Source: washingtonjewishweek.com
- Campaigned with Bernie Sanders on the 2025 Fighting Oligarchy tour against the political influence of billionaires.Source: kpbs.org
- Co-sponsored and voted for the Women's Health Protection Act, which passed the House in July 2022 and would protect abortion access nationally.Source: ocasio-cortez.house.gov
Record
Ocasio-Cortez is one of the most prominent progressive members of the House and a member of the group of progressive lawmakers often called the Squad. Supporters cite her role in putting climate policy, the Green New Deal and limits on congressional stock trading on the national agenda, and her strong primary results. Critics argue that her proposals, especially the Green New Deal, would be very costly, and that positions such as abolishing ICE hurt Democrats with moderate voters.
She has also faced criticism from the left, including from the Democratic Socialists of America, over her July 2025 vote against cutting Iron Dome funding. In December 2024 she sought the top Democratic post on the Oversight Committee and lost to Representative Gerry Connolly.
