Progressive darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is facing some pretty fierce competition come November. Even though she's continually in the national spotlight and progressive adore her, it's becoming apparent many in her district must not like her. In fact, 12 Democrats and three Republicans are running against Ocasio-Cortez, WINS Radio reported.
On Saturday, AOC kicked off her re-election campaign in her new Queens office, where roughly 100 people packed into the small area. She told supporters she wanted more voters to show up at the polls, something she's calling the "turnout machine," The New York Post reported.
“We have some really ambitious goals,” she said. “Last election cycle, in the primary as we know, the turnout was quite low. This year, we want to multiply turnout by four times. That’s our goal. We want to secure 60,000 votes in the primary election. We need to start creating a turnout machine right now.”
The freshman congresswoman made waves when she ousted House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, something that has been considered one of the biggest upsets during the 2018 midterm elections.
One of the Democrats hoping to unseat Ocasio-Cortez is former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera. According to WINS Radio, AOC's opponents are hoping establishment Democrats who are tired of the sitting congresswoman will vote for an alternative.
Even though Ocasio-Cortez knows people are trying to unseat her, she doesn't mind insurgency campaigns. After all, that's how she won her seat.
"I think everyone has a right [to run]. I, of course, won my seat with a primary. I would never begrudge anyone trying to run in a primary. I’m committed to organizing,” she told The Post.
AOC's campaign finances sat at $5.3 million by the end of 2019 and she has national name recognition, which makes her considered more difficult to beat.
Voters in Ocasio-Cortez's district will make their voices heard during the primary election on June 23rd.