Democracy for America endorses Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress in NY-14

Democracy for America (DFA) today endorsed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her Democratic primary challenge of U.S. Representative Joe Crowley in New York's 14th Congressional District.

DFA has 119,998 members in the state of New York -- including more than 18,000 in and around New York's 14th district -- and more than one million members nationwide.

DFA Chair Jim Dean on why the grassroots progressive organization's decision to back Ocasio-Cortez in her NY-14 race:

"Leadership in Washington shouldn't be determined by the number of corporate lobbyists you have on speed dial or the backroom deals you're willing to cut to get there, but by the boldness of your vision, the people you're committed to fight for, and the movements for change you're looking to help build.

"We're thrilled to endorse Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez because of the people-powered, grassroots campaign she's building to challenge the entrenched interests in Washington and the bold, next generation of political leadership we believe she represents.

"Democracy for America members are fired up about the visionary movement Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is building in the Bronx and Queens, and we're excited to help them do everything they can to take it to Washington in the closing days of this primary." -- Jim Dean, Chair, Democracy for America

As a part of its work in the 2018 election cycle, DFA intends to raise and spend more than $12 million in support of progressive candidates, make more than 2 million voter contacts, and support more than 250 candidates nationwide -- like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez -- in running inclusive populist campaigns committed to turning out the New American Majority of people of color and progressive white voters in November.

An educator, organizer, and third-generation Bronxite, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez personally understands the struggle of families in New York's 14th District and the inclusive populist solutions they need their member of Congress to fight for in Washington. In 2008, Ocasio-Cortez's father passed away in the midst of the emerging Great Recession forcing her to take on 18-hour days waiting tables and working multiple jobs to make sure her family could stay in their home. Those lived experiences have given Ocasio-Cortez a much deeper understanding of how policies impact our most vulnerable communities in ways that go beyond what most politicians see in the white papers that reach their desk. And, ultimately, its why she's running on a bold, inclusive populist agenda that includes Medicare for All, a Federal Jobs Guarantee, tuition-free college, and criminal justice reform that's inspiring the progressive grassroots in her district and across the country.

Democracy for America is a member-driven, people-powered progressive PAC with more than one million members nationwide committed to taking on income inequality, money in politics, and structural racism. Since its 2004 founding, DFA members have raised and contributed more than $54 million and made more than 21.9 million volunteer calls to help successfully elect 917 progressive candidates nationwide.