Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez facts for kids

"AOC" redirects here. For other uses, see AOC (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Official portrait, 2019

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 14th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Joe Crowley

Personal details
Born	(1989-10-13) October 13, 1989 (age 35) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Working Families Party Democratic Socialists of America
Education	Boston University (BA)
Signature

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (born October 13, 1989), often called AOC, is an American politician. Since 2019, she has been a U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district. This means she helps make laws for her area in New York. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx, a part of New York City. Her family later moved to Yorktown Heights, New York. She went to Boston University, where she studied international relations and economics. After college, she moved back to the Bronx. She worked as a waitress and bartender and became an activist.

In 2018, Ocasio-Cortez became well-known when she won the Democratic Party's primary election. She beat Joe Crowley, a long-time politician, which was a big surprise. She then easily won the main election in November. She has been reelected several times since then.

When she started her job at age 29, Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress. She supports ideas like Medicare for All (healthcare for everyone), tuition-free public colleges, and a Green New Deal (a plan for the environment and jobs). She is a key leader in a group of progressive politicians called "the Squad."

Early Life and School

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx, New York City, on October 13, 1989. Her father was an architect from the Bronx, and her mother was born in Puerto Rico. She has a younger brother. Her family lived in the Bronx until she was five. Then, they moved to Yorktown Heights, New York.

She went to Yorktown High School and finished in 2007. In high school, she was called "Sandy Ocasio." She did a science project on how antioxidants affect tiny worms. Her project won second place at a big science fair. Because of her efforts, a small asteroid was named after her: 23238 Ocasio-Cortez.

After high school, Ocasio-Cortez went to Boston University. Her father passed away in 2008 during her second year. This experience taught her about the legal system. In college, she worked as an intern for U.S. senator Ted Kennedy. She helped people who spoke Spanish with immigration issues. She graduated from Boston University in 2011 with degrees in international relations and economics.

How She Started Her Career

After college, Ocasio-Cortez moved back to the Bronx. She worked as a bartender and waitress to help her mother. Her mother was a house cleaner and school bus driver. They were trying to save their home from being taken by the bank. Ocasio-Cortez also started a small publishing company. It published books that showed the Bronx in a good way.

In 2016, she helped with Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign. After that, she traveled around the U.S. She visited places like Flint, Michigan, where people faced a water crisis. She also went to Standing Rock Indian Reservation to support protests against a pipeline. Seeing people fight for their communities inspired her. She realized she could run for office to help her own community.

Elections

2018 Election

Ocasio-Cortez's campaign logo was inspired by "revolutionary posters and visuals from the past."

Ocasio-Cortez started her campaign in April 2017. She was still working as a waitress and bartender. She was the first person since 2004 to challenge Joe Crowley in the primary election. Crowley was a powerful leader in the Democratic Party. She didn't have a lot of money for her campaign. She said, "You can't really beat big money with more money. You have to beat them with a totally different game." Her campaign focused on getting support from regular people. They did not take money from big companies.

Ocasio-Cortez won the primary election on June 26, 2018. She got 57.13% of the votes, beating Crowley by a lot. This result surprised many political experts. She spent much less money than Crowley but still won. After her win, she became very famous across the country.

In the main election in November, Ocasio-Cortez ran against Republican Anthony Pappas. Her district is very Democratic, meaning most people there vote for Democrats. She easily won the election with 78% of the votes. Her win was part of a bigger victory for Democrats in 2018.

Media Attention

Before her primary win, Ocasio-Cortez didn't get much attention from major news channels. But after she won, she was on many TV shows and in many articles. She also drew a lot of attention when she campaigned with Bernie Sanders. They held a rally in Kansas that drew 4,000 people.

Some news outlets said that traditional ways of judging a campaign, like how much money it raised, were wrong. They said that news should pay more attention to what voters are feeling.

Ocasio-Cortez was featured in a 2018 documentary called Fahrenheit 11/9. It showed her primary campaign. Before she started her job in Congress, a video of her dancing in college was shared online. Many people supported her, and she responded by posting a new video of herself dancing.

She was also one of the people featured in the documentary Knock Down the House. This film followed four women who were not career politicians as they ran for office in 2018. Ocasio-Cortez was the only one of the four to win.

2020 Election

In 2020, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera challenged Ocasio-Cortez in the Democratic primary. Ocasio-Cortez won the nomination. In the general election, she faced John Cummings, a former police officer.

During the 2020 campaign, Ocasio-Cortez held online workshops for people in her district. These workshops taught about things like workplace organizing and fighting eviction. She also played the video game Among Us on Twitch with other politicians and popular streamers. This stream had over 400,000 viewers. It helped people see her as a regular person. She streamed again to raise money for food banks and help for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The stream raised $200,000.

Later Elections

Ocasio-Cortez ran unopposed in the Democratic primary in 2022. She won the general election against Tina Forte and Desi Cuellar.

In 2024, she won her primary election against Marty Dolan. She then easily won the general election against Tina Forte again. Some voters in her district voted for both Ocasio-Cortez and Donald Trump. This was unusual. People said it was because both politicians talked about helping working-class people.

Her Time in Congress

Ocasio-Cortez started her job in Congress at age 29. She was the youngest woman ever to serve in the U.S. Congress. She quickly gained a huge following on social media. She has millions of followers on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook. Her colleagues even asked her to teach them about social media.

In 2019, she said she was using social media less. She called it a "public health risk."

Early Days in Congress

In November 2018, on her first day of training for Congress, Ocasio-Cortez joined a climate change protest. It was outside the office of Nancy Pelosi, a top Democratic leader. She also supported Pelosi becoming Speaker of the House.

When she gave her first speech in Congress in January 2019, the video became very popular online. It set a record for C-SPAN, a channel that shows government meetings.

Important Hearings

In February 2019, Ocasio-Cortez questioned experts about rules for politicians and money. She said that no rules stop lawmakers from being influenced by rich companies. This video clip was watched over 37.5 million times online.

She also questioned Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for President Donald Trump. She asked him about Trump's business dealings. Cohen's answers suggested that Trump might have done things like tax fraud. This exchange led to an investigation by the New York attorney general.

Media Attention Continues

Ocasio-Cortez continued to get a lot of media attention. She was often talked about as much as presidential candidates. News channels like Fox News mentioned her very often. Some said this was because Fox News wanted to show her as a "radical socialist."

A study found that Republicans knew more about Ocasio-Cortez than Democrats. She was seen very negatively by Republicans and positively by Democrats. Time Magazine called her the "second-most talked about politician" in the U.S., after Trump.

She has also been a target of fake news and rumors online. People have made up quotes and photos of her.

Ocasio-Cortez is known for wearing red lipstick. She has said that beauty and femininity are important to her. She sees self-love as a "mini protest" against unfair criticism of women in politics.

Met Gala Appearance

In 2021, Ocasio-Cortez went to the Met Gala. This is a big fashion event that raises money for a museum. She wore a dress that said "Tax the Rich." As an elected official, she didn't have to pay for her ticket. Some people criticized her for going to such a fancy event. She said she was trying to send a message to the very wealthy people there.

"The Squad"

Ocasio-Cortez is part of a group of progressive members of Congress called "the Squad." Other original members include Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib. In 2019, President Trump criticized the Squad. He said they should "go back" to where they came from. Ocasio-Cortez and the others said this was racist language. They said they loved their country and wanted to fix its problems. The Squad has grown to include more members since then.

Green New Deal

H. Res. 109: "Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal"; the first piece of legislation authored by Ocasio-Cortez.

In February 2019, Ocasio-Cortez introduced her first big plan, the Green New Deal. She worked with Senator Ed Markey. Their plan aims to stop using fossil fuels and improve the country's buildings and transportation. The goal is to create "net zero" greenhouse gases in 10 years. This plan also aims to create many jobs. Groups like Greenpeace supported the plan. Most Republican lawmakers did not support it. Some Democratic senators supported it, but others, like Nancy Pelosi, were unsure.

In March 2019, Republicans in the Senate tried to vote on the Green New Deal quickly. Democrats protested by voting "present" or against it. The plan failed in the Senate.

January 6 Capitol Attack

In February 2021, Ocasio-Cortez shared her experience during the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol. She said she hid in her office bathroom and feared for her life. She described preparing for an attack by rioters. She said, "I had a very close encounter where I thought I was going to die."

2024 Democratic National Convention Speech

Ocasio-Cortez gave her first big speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. She spoke in support of the Harris-Walz campaign. She criticized Donald Trump, saying he would "sell this country for a dollar." She talked about her middle-class background. She said Harris would support the middle class. She also talked about the Israel-Hamas war. She said Harris was working for a ceasefire. Her speech was well-received by many in her party.

Other Important Issues

After a big power crisis in Texas in 2021, Ocasio-Cortez organized a fundraiser. It raised $5 million to help Texans with food, water, and shelter. She also traveled to Houston to help volunteers.

In 2021, she and other politicians proposed a bill to create "postal banking" programs. These would help people in rural and low-income areas get banking services. She said many families have to use check-cashing places that charge high fees.

In 2022, Ocasio-Cortez was asked about running for president. She said she believes anything is possible. But she also said that many people in the country "hate women" and "hate women of color." She said this made her unsure about her future.

In 2024, after reports about gifts received by Supreme Court justices, Ocasio-Cortez said the Court was "corrupted." She and Representative Jamie Raskin introduced a bill to limit gifts to justices. She also announced she would try to impeach some justices. She said the court's corruption was a "constitutional crisis."

Committee Work

Ocasio-Cortez works on several important committees in Congress:

Committee on Oversight and Accountability (she helps lead this committee)
Committee on Natural Resources (she helps lead the part that deals with energy)
Committee on Energy and Commerce

Groups She Belongs To

Congressional Progressive Caucus (a group of progressive lawmakers)

Her Political Ideas

Ocasio-Cortez is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. She calls herself a "democratic socialist." She says this is part of who she is, but not all of it. She believes society will see a big change in its economic system. She has said, "To me, capitalism is irredeemable."

She supports ideas like:

Workplace democracy: Giving workers more say in their jobs.
Single-payer Medicare for All: A healthcare system where the government covers everyone.
Tuition-free public college: Making public colleges and trade schools free.
Federal job guarantee: Ensuring everyone who wants a job can have one.
Canceling student debt: Getting rid of all student loans.
Guaranteed family leave: Ensuring people can take time off for family without losing their job.
Abolishing ICE: Getting rid of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Ending private prisons: Stopping private companies from running prisons.
Gun control: Making stricter laws about guns.
Renewable energy: Using 100% clean energy sources.

She has said she likes policies that are similar to those in countries like the UK, Norway, Finland, and Sweden.

Economic Ideas

Ocasio-Cortez is open to using Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). This is an economic idea that suggests governments can spend more to reach goals like the Green New Deal.

She voted against a bill in 2023 that would limit government spending. She believes new progressive policies need government spending, like the original New Deal during the Great Depression.

Banking

In 2020, Ocasio-Cortez proposed a bill to encourage public banks. These banks would be run by states and cities. In 2021, she also proposed a bill for postal banking. This would let post offices offer basic banking services in areas without many banks.

Defense Spending

Ocasio-Cortez has called for reducing money spent on defense. In 2022, she was the only Democrat in the House to vote against a spending bill. She did this because it increased money for defense and immigration agencies.

Workers' Rights

Ocasio-Cortez strongly supports workers' rights. She supports a $15 per hour federal minimum wage. In 2019, she went back to bartending for a day to promote a bill that would raise the minimum wage. She said that jobs paying very low wages are "indentured servitude."

In 2021, she skipped the inauguration of Joe Biden to join a strike by workers in the Bronx.

Poverty

In 2019, Ocasio-Cortez introduced a plan to fight poverty. It would consider the cost of childcare, healthcare, and internet access when measuring poverty. It would also limit rent increases and help people with criminal records or who are undocumented get social support.

Tax Ideas

Ocasio-Cortez has suggested a high tax rate of 70% on income above $10 million. This money would help pay for the Green New Deal. She believes that the government should spend more to fund her plans, like the original New Deal did.

Amazon HQ2 Plan

Ocasio-Cortez was against a plan for Amazon.com to build a second headquarters in New York City. The city offered Amazon $3 billion in tax breaks. She said the city should instead invest that money in her district. Some people criticized her, saying she didn't understand that tax breaks are discounts, not money given by the government. They said she cost New York many jobs and a lot of tax revenue.

Environment

Ocasio-Cortez speaks on a Green New Deal in front of the Capitol Building in February 2019.

Ocasio-Cortez believes climate change is the biggest threat to the U.S. and the world. She says it must be addressed right away to prevent big problems.

Her Green New Deal plan wants the U.S. to use 100% renewable energy and stop using fossil fuels within ten years. She is open to the idea of nuclear power as part of the plan.

Healthcare

Ocasio-Cortez supports a single-payer healthcare system. She believes medical care is a human right. She says one government health insurer should cover everyone in America. This would lower overall costs. Her website says, "Almost every other developed nation in the world has universal healthcare."

She has also proposed laws to allow more research into the medical use of psilocybin.

Social Issues

Ocasio-Cortez with Camila Vallejo in Chile in 2023

Education

Ocasio-Cortez supports making public colleges and trade schools free. She is still paying off her own student loans. She wants to cancel all student debt for everyone.

Immigration

Ocasio-Cortez supports abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. She says it acts too much like a military group. She wants to make it easier for immigrants to become citizens. She has said that "women and children on that border that are trying to seek refuge and opportunity" are "acting more American" than those who try to keep them out.

In 2019, she visited immigrant detention centers in Texas. She said the conditions were "horrifying." She compared them to "concentration camps" (places where many people are held without trial). She refused to apologize for using the term.

When the Biden administration reopened a center for migrant children in 2021, Ocasio-Cortez said it was "never okay." She called for better rules for such centers.

LGBTQ Equality

Ocasio-Cortez supports LGBTQ rights and LGBTQ equality. She has spoken about the need for equal rights for LGBTQ people in workplaces and other areas. She also strongly supports transgender rights. She says, "Trans rights are civil rights are human rights."

Awards and Honors

The MIT Lincoln Laboratory named the asteroid 23238 Ocasio-Cortez after her. This was to honor her science fair project in high school. She was also named the 2017 National Hispanic Institute Person of the Year. In 2019, she received the Adelle Foley Award. She was also named one of the BBC 100 Women in 2019.

Personal Life

After her father passed away in 2008, Ocasio-Cortez's mother and grandmother moved to Florida because of money problems. She still has family in Puerto Rico. She has said that being Puerto Rican means having ancestors from many different backgrounds. She also has some Sephardic Jewish ancestry.

Ocasio-Cortez is a Catholic. She has written about how her faith affects her life and her work.

During her 2018 election campaign, Ocasio-Cortez lived in Parkchester, Bronx, with her partner, Riley Roberts. They got engaged in April 2022 in Puerto Rico.

In 2021, a group that looks at politicians' money found that Ocasio-Cortez was one of the least wealthy members of Congress.

In May 2021, Ocasio-Cortez said she had been going to psychotherapy after the January 6 United States Capitol attack. She called it "extraordinarily traumatizing." She said she "did not know if I was going to make it to the end of that day alive."

Ocasio-Cortez is a fan of the New York Yankees baseball team.