NEW YORK: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described socialist of the Democratic Party, ousted a 10-term incumbent, Joe Crowley, in elections for a New York congressional district on Tuesday.

Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old woman of Latin American descent, won over voters in the district with a ruthlessly efficient grassroots bid, although Crowley, the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House, outraised her by a 10-to-1 margin, according to CNN.

This was the first time in 14 years that a member of his own party has attempted to unseat Crowley.

The defeat marks a potential sea change in the broader sphere of liberal politics — a result with implications for Democrats nationwide .

“This is not an end, this is the beginning. This is the beginning because the message that we sent the world tonight is that it’s not OK to put donors before your community,” Ocasio-Cortez told roaring supporters on Tuesday night.

“You have given this country hope, you have given this country proof that when you knock on your neighbor’s door, when you come to them with love, when you let them know that no matter your stance, you are there for them — that we can make change,” she said.

Agencies add: Political analysts cast Ocasio-Cortez’s win as the biggest upset since House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a Republican, lost in 2014 to a little-known right-wing professor, Dave Brat.

The outcome of the New York race added fuel to the battle between the Democratic Party’s establishment wing, led by longtime House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, and a more liberal faction inspired by Bernie Sanders’ presidential run in 2016.

Meanwhile, two Republicans backed by US President Donald Trump prevailed in their nominating contests Tuesday night, again underscoring his influence among the party’s voters.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2018