High-ranking House Democrat, defeated in primary upset by newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Rep. Joe Crowley defeated in Democratic primary upset by newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez


By Samuel Chamberlain | Fox News


Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, left, pulled off the shock of Tuesday's primaries by defeating 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley (Campaign photo/AP)


Rep. Joe Crowley, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus who was thought by some to be a future Speaker of the House, suffered a shocking primary defeat in New York's 14th House District Tuesday.

With 88 percent of precincts reporting, 28-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez -- who has never held elected office -- led Crowley by more than 3,600 votes.

Ocasio-Cortez, a Bernie Sanders supporter who has called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had gained the endorsement of several left-wing groups, including MoveOn and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

✔@Ocasio2018

1h

Replying to @Ocasio2018
Today I saw people voting that are almost never seen in an off-year midterm primary.

Just now, as I’m typing this with 8 minutes left, two young men of color, 20 years old, just walked up to me and said they just voted.

2 yrs ago, the “experts” told me not to bother with them.


Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

✔@Ocasio2018


But I knew that in refusing to engage with non-voters, we were churning a cycle of neglect and cynicism.

So I reached out. And we have been embraced. We have built power. We have organized.

What we have built is permanent. No. Matter. What.

6:00 PM - Jun 26, 2018



"We have built power. We have organized," Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter as the polls closed. "What we have built is permanent. No. Matter. What."

Soon after The Associated Press called the race, the New York City branch of the DSA tweeted congratulations to Ocasio-Cortez, saying that her victory proved "that working class people are hungry for a voice in politics."

View image on Twitter
New York City DSA @nycDSA


Congrats on the win, @Ocasio2018. The number of votes cast tonight—in what has been the lowest turnout district in the country under Rep. Crowley—proves that working class people are hungry for a voice in politics.

7:00 PM - Jun 26, 2018



In a statement, Crowley congratulated Ocasio-Cortez on her victory and said he looked forward to supporting her against Republican Anthony Pappas in November.

"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," Crowley said. "This is why we must come together. We will only be able to stop Donald Trump and the Republican Congress by working together, as a united Democratic Party."

Joe Crowley

✔@JoeCrowleyNY

I want to congratulate @Ocasio2018. I look forward to supporting her and all Democrats this November. 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.

7:20 PM - Jun 26, 2018



The National Republican Campaign Committee celebrated the defeat of "poor Joe Crowley."

"House Democrats, hoping for a post-Pelsoi era, are now left leaderless," NRCC spokesman Matt Gorman said. "The only person happier tonight than Nancy Pelosi is the NRCC."

President Trump also reveled in the downfall of the man he called "Big Trump Hater Congressman Joe Crowley"

Donald J. Trump

✔@realDonaldTrump


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!

7:18 PM - Jun 26, 2018



"That is a big one that nobody saw happening," Trump said of Crowley's defeat. "Perhaps he should have been nicer, and more respectful, to his President!"

Crowley, the fourth-ranked House Democrat and a ten-term incumbent, was viewed by many observers as the one person a broad enough support base to potentially succeed House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi or House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer. His defeat leaves a large gap in the House Democratic leadership and ensures that Pelosi and Hoyer will be able to remain in their posts, if they choose to do so.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018...io-cortez.html