This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/26/democrats-primaries-upset-joe-crowley-alexandria-osacio-cortez

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Democrats see major upset as socialist beats top-ranking US congressman Democrats see major upset as socialist beats top-ranking US congressman
(about 3 hours later)
A 28-year-old political newcomer has ousted Joe Crowley, a 10-term Democrat pegged as his party’s next leader in Congress, in a New York congressional primary – a stunning political upset likely to send shockwaves through the party. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old Democratic socialist from the Bronx, has unseated Joe Crowley, a 20-year congressman, in a stunning political upset that sent shockwaves through the party.
With 98% of the votes tallied, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a former Bernie Sanders volunteer and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, took 57.5% and Crowley had 42.5%, in a race for a district of New York City that included parts of Queens and the Bronx. The victory, in a New York district primary election to determine who stands against the Republicans in November’s midterms for a seat in Congress, immediately prompted debate about the wider ramifications for the Democrats, and whether it heralds a further move to the left.
A smiling Ocasio-Cortez appeared shocked at the numbers as they were reported on on Tuesday night, and said her victory had met “the machine with a movement”. She is expected to defeat her Republican opponent in the heavily Democratic district in November, which would make her the youngest member of Congress. Ocasio-Cortez, who would be the youngest member of Congress if she, as expected, wins in November, is a former organizer for Bernie Sanders and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. She joined protesters at the Standing Rock demonstration against a natural gas pipeline.
“Our campaign was focused on a message of economic, social and racial dignity for working-class Americans, especially those in Queens and the Bronx,” Ocasio-Cortez told MSNBC’s Morning Joe show on Wednesday morning. We were very clear about our message, very clear about our priorities, and very clear about the fact that even if you have never voted before, we are talking to you.” In the election – one of several primary victories by progressives – Ocasio-Cortez won 57.5% of the vote and Crowley had 42.5%. The district includes parts of Queens and the Bronx.
Bronx-born Ocasio-Cortez, who was working in a Manhattan cocktail bar this time last year, defeated Crowley after hitting the incumbent on his ties to Wall Street and accusing him of being out of touch with his increasingly diverse district. When the result was called, a visibly shocked Ocasio-Cortez clasped her hands to her mouth. “Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God,” she repeated. She then said: “We meet a machine with a movement, and that is what we have done today … working-class Americans want a clear champion and there is nothing radical about moral clarity in 2018.”
Crowley, head of the Queens county Democratic party and the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, was considered to be Nancy Pelosi’s likely successor as House speaker if she stepped down. He had raised over $3m for his campaign, 10 times the amount raised by Ocasio-Cortez, who rejected corporate sponsors and relied on small donors. The Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who is under pressure to step aside and pave the way for a new generation, insisted the win for the left of the party was not representative of a wider trend.
The result was compared to the shock defeat of Eric Cantor, the No 2 House Republican, to a Tea Party candidate, David Brat, in 2014. Cantor’s defeat stopped any momentum for Republicans in Congress on immigration reform and helped to create the House Freedom Caucus and drive out the former speaker John Boehner. Pelosi said: “They made a choice in one district. The fact that in a very progressive district in New York, it went more progressive … is about that district. It is not to be viewed as something that stands for anything else.”
Ocasio-Cortez ran a grassroots campaign and made a surprise visit to the Mexican border on the eve of the election to emphasize her call to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (Ice). Crowley was unwilling to go that far, although he did call the agency “fascist”. Asked if Democratic leadership should be more reflective of a party that is increasingly diverse, progressive and young, Pelosi replied: “I’m female, I’m progressive – so what’s your problem? Two out of three ain’t bad.”
Crowley had expressed confidence about the race in private conversations and as one national Democratic strategist told the Guardian: “The Crowley team did not raise red flags or ask allies for help with his primary.” Before 2018, Crowley had not even faced a primary since 2004, years before his 2018 opponent was even eligible to vote. Crowley’s loss also throws open the Democratic leadership race to succeed Pelosi.
In a statement, Crowley congratulated Ocasio-Cortez and gave her his backing, adding: “The Trump administration is a threat to everything we stand for here in Queens and the Bronx, and if we don’t win back the House this November, we will lose the nation we love.” The daughter of a Puerto Rican mother and Bronx-born father, Ocasio-Cortez was raised in a working-class community and took on a second job waiting tables to help her family avoid foreclosure.
Donald Trump also weighed in, apparently viewing Crowley’s defeat to a leftwing candidate as a referendum on him. The president wrote on Twitter shortly after the race was called: “Wow! Big Trump Hater Congressman Joe Crowley, who many expected was going to take Nancy Pelosi’s place, just LOST his primary election. In other words, he’s out! That is a big one that nobody saw happening. Perhaps he should have been nicer, and more respectful, to his President!” She ran on a platform of universal healthcare, a federal jobs guarantee program and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), the agency responsible for border enforcement. Like Sanders, she shunned corporate donations and attacked her opponent’s ties to Wall Street, accusing him of being out of touch with his increasingly diverse district.
Crowley had been considered the only plausible competition for Pelosi as Democratic leader, although he had pledged not to run against her. Crowley, the head of the Queens county Democratic party and the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, was widely rumored to have ambitions to succeed Pelosi if she stepped down. He had raised over $3m for his campaign, 10 times the amount raised by Ocasio-Cortez, who rejected corporate sponsors and relied on small donors.
Elsewhere on Tuesday night, there were several other progressive victories. In Maryland, Ben Jealous, the former president of the NAACP, won the Democratic primary for governor against the Prince George’s county executive, Rushern Baker. Jealous ran as an ardent liberal and touted national supporters such as Bernie Sanders as he called for free college tuition and marijuana legalization. Baker ran as a mainstream Democrat with a host of local establishment endorsements. Jealous will face the incumbent Republican Larry Hogan in November. Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont whose presidential campaign elected the progressive base, touted Ocasio-Cortez’s victory as step forward for the progressive movement.
He said: “She took on the entire local Democratic establishment in her district and won a very strong victory. She demonstrated once again what progressive grassroots politics can do.”
“Red Alert,” read the front page of the New York Post. “Young socialist upsets the King of Queens, shocking Dem establishment.”
Ocasio-Cortez is also a part of a surge of Democratic women who decided to run for office after Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016. “Women like me aren’t supposed to run for office,” she said in a viral campaign ad. But like so many first-time female Democratic candidates – she ran and won on Tuesday.
“I think a lot of working-class Americans and voters here have been waiting for an unapologetic champion for economic, social and racial dignity in the United States,” Ocasio-Cortez told CBS. “And we provided a very direct message, a very clear message.”
Victories for progressives
In Maryland, Ben Jealous, the former president of the NAACP, won the Democratic primary for governor against the Prince George’s county executive, Rushern Baker. Jealous ran as an ardent liberal and touted national supporters such as Bernie Sanders as he called for free college tuition and marijuana legalization. Baker ran as a mainstream Democrat with a host of local establishment endorsements. Jealous will face the incumbent Republican Larry Hogan in November.
In Colorado, congressman Jared Polis won the primary for governor. Polis ran on a leftwing platform, including single-payer healthcare. He will face off against the Republican Walker Stapleton, a member of the Bush political dynasty, in November.In Colorado, congressman Jared Polis won the primary for governor. Polis ran on a leftwing platform, including single-payer healthcare. He will face off against the Republican Walker Stapleton, a member of the Bush political dynasty, in November.
On Staten Island, the former congressman Michael Grimm failed in his comeback attempt against the incumbent Dan Donovan. Grimm, who resigned from Congress after pleading guilty to tax fraud and serving time in federal prison, was attempting to retake his old seat and paint himself as the true disciple of Donald Trump. Donovan, a comparative moderate, received Trump’s endorsement as part of an effort by Republicans to keep themselves from making a seat that Obama won in 2012 even more vulnerable in the midterms. Donovan ended up winning easily. On Staten Island, the former congressman Michael Grimm failed in his comeback attempt against the incumbent Dan Donovan. Grimm, who resigned from Congress after pleading guilty to tax fraud and serving time in federal prison, was attempting to retake his old seat and paint himself as the true disciple of Donald Trump. Donovan, a comparative moderate, received Trump’s endorsement as part of an effort by Republicans to keep themselves from making a seat that Barack Obama won in 2012 even more vulnerable in the midterms. Donovan ended up winning easily.
In South Carolina, just one day after Donald Trump appeared on his behalf at a raucous rally, Governor Henry McMaster pulled off a narrow victory against the businessman John Warren in the runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.In South Carolina, just one day after Donald Trump appeared on his behalf at a raucous rally, Governor Henry McMaster pulled off a narrow victory against the businessman John Warren in the runoff for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
McMaster was the first statewide politician to endorse Trump, in January 2016. He ascended to the governorship after Trump nominated his predecessor, Nikki Haley, to be the US ambassador to the United Nations. In addition to appearing at a rally on McMaster’s behalf, Trump has repeatedly praised the longtime South Carolina politician on Twitter as “a truly fine man” who “loves our military”. McMaster will face the Democratic state representative James Smith in the November general election.McMaster was the first statewide politician to endorse Trump, in January 2016. He ascended to the governorship after Trump nominated his predecessor, Nikki Haley, to be the US ambassador to the United Nations. In addition to appearing at a rally on McMaster’s behalf, Trump has repeatedly praised the longtime South Carolina politician on Twitter as “a truly fine man” who “loves our military”. McMaster will face the Democratic state representative James Smith in the November general election.
Elsewhere in the Palmetto state, the state senator Will Timmons beat out the conservative firebrand Lee Bright for the Republican nomination in the upstate congressional seat being vacated by Trey Gowdy.
In Utah, the former 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney easily won his party’s nomination for US Senate. Romney had previously served as governor of Massachusetts.
DemocratsDemocrats
US politicsUS politics
RepublicansRepublicans
New YorkNew York
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content