Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez-Cortez, D-N.Y., thought she had a reason to cheer when it comes to fundraising. According to her recent filings, she gas raised more money so far than any of her fellow freshman representatives heading into her first re-election bid.
But there’s just one problem with her donor haul that not many people noticed — and it’s created a nightmare scenario for Ocasio-Cortez in 2020.
She only has 10 donors that matter — from within the district she represents back home in the Bronx, New York.
Critics say it’s proof her voters don’t like her, or they don’t care enough about her work in Congress to bother donating. Her huge donation numbers are coming almost exclusively from outside her home, The Daily Callerreported.
Through the first half of 2019, just 1 percent of Ocasio-Cortez’ donor dollars came from her actualy home district. That translates to just $1,525.50 in campaign funds, putting Ocasio-Cortez far behind the pack compared to her fellow lawmakers.
She’s popular with far-left liberals on social media — but not actual voters.
By comparison, The Daily Caller reports that other freshman lawmaker raised an average of $107,141.29 from constituents in their respective districts.
Ocasio-Cortez’ close allies, Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., also both rank among some of the lowest in constituent support from their respective districts.
Only one member, Rep. Ayanna Presley, D-Mass., was able to raise 30 percent of her donors from her district.
On the flip side, freshman Republican lawmakers overall earned a huge haul of donations from the Americans they actually represent.
In recent months, polls have show that Independent and moderate support for Ocasio-Cortez and the other “squad” members have plummeted; political experts say this growing unpopularity is taking a heavy burden on constituent donation.
And it means Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, and/or Tlaib face a legitimate challenger for the next election. Could the Democratic voters of the districts be itching to elect a new candidate?
Ocasio-Cortez has money coming from all over the U.S. — she’s every bit a celebrity as she is a politician.
But come election time, if she wants to stay in Congress, the only votes that matter are the ones in her district.
And they’ve refused to pick up the phone with Ocasio-Cortez’ campaign has called.
The Horn editorial team