At age 29, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman ever elected to the United States Congress. Since taking office in 2019, she has maintained a position as a representative for New York, consistently challenging political norms and advocating for a progressive agenda centered on systemic reform, economic equity, and environmental policy within the federal government.
Early Development and Academic Background
Born in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx in 1989, Ocasio-Cortez attended Yorktown High School, graduating in 2007. Her academic performance included a second-place finish in the microbiology category at the 2007 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. She later attended Boston University, where she interned for Senator Ted Kennedy. In 2011, she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts, having double-majored in economics and international relations.
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Following her university studies, Ocasio-Cortez returned to the Bronx, where she worked as a teacher, bartender, and waiter to support her family. She later managed a publishing venture called Brook Avenue Press and served as an educational director for the National Hispanic Institute. Her political activism grew during the 2016 presidential election cycle, when she worked as an organizer for Bernie Sanders and traveled across the United States to engage with communities affected by regional crises.
Entry into Federal Politics
Ocasio-Cortez launched her congressional campaign in April 2017 while employed at the taqueria Flats Fix in New York City. Operating with limited financial resources, she focused on grassroots mobilization. In the 2018 primary election, she defeated 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley, securing 56.7 percent of the vote. This victory marked a significant upset in national politics, leading to her subsequent terms in the House of Representatives spanning 2019 to 2025.
Policy Advocacy and Legislative Involvement
As a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Justice Democrats, and The Squad, Ocasio-Cortez promotes a platform that includes Medicare for All, a jobs guarantee, and the Green New Deal. Her legislative work emphasizes the expansion of worker cooperatives and the transition to tuition-free public higher education. She remains an active participant in debates concerning civil rights and federal policy, drawing on her background in community organization to shape her legislative priorities.
Fast facts
- Born: 1989, Parkchester
- Education: Boston University
- First elected: 2018
- Party: Democratic Party
- Notable affiliation: The Squad
- Award: BBC 100 Women (2019)
- Languages: Spanish, English
- Religion: Catholicism
Questions readers ask
What was the result of the 2018 primary election?
Ocasio-Cortez received 56.7 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Joe Crowley.
Which organizations did Ocasio-Cortez work for before Congress?
Her employers included Ted Kennedy, the National Hispanic Institute, and the taqueria Flats Fix.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Flats Fix and Ted Kennedy
- Educated at Boston University College of Arts and Sciences, Yorktown High School and Boston University
- Worked as politician, political activist and community organizer
