Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received a verbal thrashing after endorsing New York Democrat Alessandra Biaggi in her bid to unseat Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Sean Patrick Maloney.
On Monday, Ocasio-Cortez is officially backing a primary challenge by left-leaning state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi. Ahead of the Aug. 23 Democratic primary.
Ocasio-Cortez said in a press release, “We can count on her to stand with our movement on critical issues such as abortion rights, championing the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.”
She added that the race will be “competitive and expensive,” noting that her “well-funded opponent … happens to be the chairman of the DCCC.”
After announcing plans to run in a newly formed district spanning parts of Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties that had been represented by Ocasio-Cortez-aligned Rep. Mondaire Jones, Maloney, AOC, and other progressives clashed.
In a statement responding to the endorsement, Maloney said:
“I respect Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and have worked with her on a number of policy matters, including as a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal. But, on her endorsement, we are going to have to agree to disagree.”
“This election comes down to voters in NY-17, and I am honored to have received overwhelming support locally, including endorsements from nearly 40 elected leaders and democratic party committees,” he said.
Former Obama campaign manager Jim Messina is furious that the youthful Democratic Socialist is endorsing progressives over incumbents in Democratic primary elections.
Ocasio-Cortez decision to back Biaggi was slammed by a former Barack Obama campaign manager on Tuesday, accusing her of “stupid sh*t” activities that could cost the Democrats the House in the 2022 midterm elections.
Here’s what Messina tweeted:
“This is so counter-productive. The Supreme Court is about to outlaw abortion. We could lose both houses. So we are going to focus our time running against each other? Now we’re primarying committed progressives because … why? If we lose house it’s because of dumb sh*t like this.”
NEWS: @AOC is backing Alessandra Biaggi in her bid to primary DCCC Chair Sean Patrick Maloney. https://t.co/NNx9eJ0Ljb
— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) June 7, 2022
In 2020, Biaggi was a vocal supporter of the “Defund the Police” movement and a vocal critic of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Sources: Dailywire, Restoredrepublic, Dennismichaellynch
