Today we want to talk about one of the most influential women of our time: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Standing as the youngest U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district in history, Ocasio-Cortez is known by many as one of the most passionate and charismatic political figures leading the world today.
Ocasio-Cortez was born into a Puerto Rican family living in the Bronx, New York. After graduating from Boston University, she went back home and worked as a community organizer. However, due to the economic crisis at the time and the recent death of her father, she then took various low-wage restaurant jobs in order to support her family in times of financial turmoil. During the 2016 presidential election, she began working for Senator Bernie Sanders on his campaign. Only a few months later, Ocasio-Cortez began campaigning to replace Joe Crowley, the fourth ranked Democrat in the House of Representatives. Although many thought she was going to lose, due to her youth and inexperience, on June 27th, 2018, at the age of twenty-nine, Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest US Representative in history. Since winning the election, she has been a strong advocate for matters involving the “economic, social and racial dignity for working-class Americans, especially those in Queens and the Bronx”, and her efforts have been directed to drafting plans including Medicare For All, a federal jobs guarantee, a proposed Green New Deal, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, free public college and trade school, and a 70% marginal tax rate for incomes above $10 million.
After only a few short months in office, Ocasio-Cortez has achieved more than others could in a matter of years. Although some argue that her policies are “removed-from-reality” and “lofty”, she remains incredibly well-liked and supported in the public eye.
Daniela Ballve