Ryan Nicol
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed Michael A. Hepburn in Florida’s 27th Congressional District.
She received national attention after upsetting high-ranking Democrat Joe Crowley in a congressional primary last month, and is likely to win the seat in New York’s 14th Congressional District come November.
She says Hepburn, a former University of Miami academic adviser, is her Democratic candidate of choice for CD 27.
Ocasio-Cortez and Hepburn are both members of a group called Brand New Congress, which is pushing upstart Democratic candidates to replace the “corrupt and complacent political establishment,” according to its website.
While the shocking primary win by Ocasio-Cortez had some describing her as the possible future face of the Democratic Party, she’s stumbled several times since on the campaign trail.
An answer on the Isreali-Palestinian conflict where Ocasio-Cortez referred to the “occupation of Palestine” went viral, including the candidate’s admission that she’s “not the expert on geopolitics on this issue.”
She also recently received media criticism for blocking the press from a public town hall. Her campaign argued cameras and media members can make attendees “less comfortable,” according to a CNN report.
Ocasio-Cortez isn’t the only Brand New Congress candidate to back Hepburn’s bid.
Democratic nominees James Thompson from Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, Rob Davidson from Michigan’s 2nd, Sarah Smith from Washington’s 9th, Danielle Mitchell from Tennessee’s 3rd, Vanessa Adia from Texas’ 12th, Adrienne Bell from Texas’ 14th, and Linsey Fagan from Texas’ 26th are all supporting their fellow Brand New Congress member, Hepburn.
Hepburn is competing with former Knight Foundation Program Director Matt Haggman, Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, state Rep. David Richardson, and former University of Miami President Donna Shalala for the nomination.
“I’m not an aspiring career politician or a person with a million-dollar net worth but as we continue to visit thousands of voters doors every day, I’m making it very clear that we matter too,” Hepburn said.
