US elections shocker: First timer beats 10-term congressman

Progressive challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez celebrartes with supporters at a victory party in the Bronx after upsetting incumbent Democratic Representative Joseph Crowly on June 26, 2018 in New York City. (AFP photo) A 28-year-old Latina candidate from the Democratic Socialists of America running for the first time won over a 10-termer congressman in New York on Tuesday’s primary voting.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez beat incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley of the state’s 14th congressional district making her the Democratic candidate for the 2018 midterms.

It was a shock defeat for Crowley, the fourth-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives and potential successor of Rep. Nancy Pelosi as party leader.

Ocasio-Cortez ran on a platform of universal health care, a federal jobs guarantee and the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Crowley raised more funds that his rival 10-to-1 but a no-show in a debate with Ocasio-Cortez in the Bronx proved fatal, according to reports.

“We have families and communities here (in the 14th District) from Ecuador and Colombia, Bangladesh, Korea, Pakistan, and I see them every day, many of them are very scared about what’s going on,” CNN quoted her as saying, referring to the crackdown against immigrants. “With my campaign, in terms of immigration, we’re trying to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got your back.'”

Crowley congratulated Ocasio-Cortez promising to supporting her and all Democrats in the November polls.