Career Timeline of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) is a prominent American politician and activist. Serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019, she's a member of the Democratic Party. She is known for her progressive views and active use of social media, advocating for policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. As a young, Latina woman from a working-class background, she has become a symbol for a new generation of politicians.
2004: First Challenger to Joe Crowley since 2004
In 2017, Ocasio-Cortez was the first person since 2004 to challenge Joe Crowley, the Democratic Caucus Chair, in the primary.
April 2017: Campaign Launch
In April 2017, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez began her campaign for Congress while working at Flats Fix, a taqueria in New York City's Union Square.
June 2017: Interview with Jimmy Dore
In June 2017, Jimmy Dore interviewed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez when she first announced her candidacy.
February 2018: Call for defunding and abolishing ICE
In February 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for defunding and abolishing the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, describing it as "a product of the Bush-era Patriot Act suite of legislation".
May 2018: Criticism of IDF's actions during Gaza border protests
In May 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) use of deadly force against Palestinians participating in the 2018 Gaza border protests, describing it as a "massacre" in a tweet.
June 2018: Cover of The Indypendent
In June 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign was featured on the cover of The Indypendent, a free New York City-based monthly newspaper.
June 26, 2018: Won Democratic Primary
On June 26, 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gained national recognition by winning the Democratic Party's primary election for New York's 14th congressional district, defeating Joe Crowley.
June 28, 2018: Support for the first impeachment of President Trump
On June 28, 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told CNN she would support the first impeachment of President Trump, citing alleged violations of the Emoluments Clause.
July 2018: Campaigning with Bernie Sanders
In July 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders campaigned for James Thompson in Kansas, drawing a large crowd of 4,000 people in Wichita.
July 2018: Statement on two-state solution and Israeli presence in West Bank
In a July 2018 interview, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated she was "a proponent of a two-state solution" and referred to Israel's presence in the West Bank as an "occupation of Palestine", later acknowledging she was not an expert on the issue.
August 2018: Netroots Nation Conference
In August 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at the Netroots Nation conference, where she was called "the undisputed star of the convention".
November 2018: Climate Change Protest and Speaker Bid Support
In November 2018, during her first day of congressional orientation, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participated in a climate change protest outside Nancy Pelosi's office and backed Pelosi's bid to be Speaker of the House, contingent on Pelosi remaining the most progressive candidate.
2018: Discussion of faith and criminal justice reform
In 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez discussed her Catholic faith and its impact on her life, as well as her campaign for criminal justice reform, in an article for America, the magazine of the Jesuit order in the United States.
2018: Won General Election and Democratic Victory
In 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won the general election with 78% of the vote as part of a broader Democratic victory in the 2018 midterm elections.
January 3, 2019: 116th Congress Convened
On January 3, 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez entered the 116th Congress with a significant social media presence despite her lack of seniority. Her social media influence was recognized, and she was later appointed by her colleagues to teach them social media strategies.
January 2019: First Congressional Speech
In January 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gave her first speech on the floor of Congress, and a video of the speech posted by C-SPAN on Twitter became their most-watched video of a member of the House of Representatives within 12 hours.
January 2019: Speech at New York City Women's March
In January 2019, at the New York City Women's March in Manhattan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a speech in support of LGBTQ equality, highlighting the measures needed to ensure equality in the workplace and elsewhere.
February 7, 2019: Green New Deal Submission
On February 7, 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez submitted the Green New Deal to the House, a non-binding resolution outlining a 10-year "economic mobilization" to phase out fossil fuels and overhaul infrastructure. Senator Ed Markey also contributed to the resolution.
February 2019: Questioning of Michael Cohen
In February 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned Michael Cohen, President Trump's former lawyer, before the Oversight Committee, regarding whether Trump had inflated property values. The questioning led to an investigation by the New York attorney general.
February 2019: Congressional Hearing on Ethics Regulations
In February 2019, during a congressional hearing with campaign finance watchdog groups, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned the panel about ethics regulations. A clip of her questioning became the most-watched political video on Twitter, with more than 37.5 million views.
March 2019: Time Magazine Coverage
In March 2019, Time Magazine called Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the "Wonder Woman of the left" and said she was the second-most talked about politician in the United States after Donald Trump.
March 2019: UK Activists Propose Green New Deal
In March 2019, a group of UK activists proposed that the Labour Party adopt a similar plan to the Green New Deal, named "Labour for a Green New Deal", inspired by the Sunrise Movement and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's work in the US.
March 2019: Media Coverage and Political Standing
In March 2019, reports indicated that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received media coverage comparable to 2020 presidential candidates and was considered a prominent figure in the Democratic party. Between July 8 and 14, 2019, she drew more social media attention than the Democratic presidential candidates.
April 7, 2019: Intense Media Coverage on Fox News
According to a Media Matters for America study, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was intensely discussed on Fox News and Fox Business, being mentioned every day from February 25 to April 7, 2019, for a total of 3,181 mentions in 42 days.
May 2019: Return to bartending to promote Raise the Wage Act
In May 2019, Ocasio-Cortez returned to bartending at the Queensboro Restaurant to promote the Raise the Wage Act, advocating for a $15 per hour minimum wage for restaurant servers and tipped workers.
June 2019: Proposed legislation to remove restrictions on psilocybin research
In June 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed legislation that would remove restrictions placed on researching the medical use of psilocybin.
July 2019: Continued Media Attention
Between January and July 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had nearly three times as many mentions on Fox News as on CNN and MSNBC, according to CNN Business.
July 2019: Vote against House resolution condemning BDS movement
In July 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voted against a House resolution introduced by Representative Brad Schneider condemning the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel. The resolution ultimately passed 398–17.
July 2019: Lawsuits Filed Over Twitter Blocking
In July 2019, two lawsuits were filed against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for blocking Joey Salads and Dov Hikind on Twitter, citing First Amendment concerns.
September 2019: Introduction of anti-poverty policy proposal
In September 2019, Ocasio-Cortez introduced an anti-poverty policy proposal called "A Just Society," which considered childcare, healthcare, Internet access, and other necessities when measuring poverty.
November 4, 2019: Settlement and Apology in Twitter Blocking Lawsuit
On November 4, 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez settled a lawsuit regarding her blocking of users on Twitter. She issued an apology following the lawsuit settlement.
2019: Became US Representative
In 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez began serving as the US representative for New York's 14th congressional district.
2019: Support for pay raises for Congress
In 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported pay raises for Congress, arguing that all workers should receive cost of living increases.
February 27, 2020: Advocacy for LGBTQ equality before House Committee
On February 27, 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform for LGBTQ equality, referencing a Catholic hospital's refusal to provide a hysterectomy to a transgender man and stating that denying medical care based on identity is not holy.
April 2020: Call for public reports of data on COVID-19 cases in nursing homes
In April 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of 77 representatives to call for public reports of data on COVID-19 cases in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
August 2020: Introduction of Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act
In August 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez introduced the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2020, which was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
August 2020: Legal Action Following Cohen Testimony
In August 2020, the New York Attorney General Letitia James referenced the exchange between Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Michael Cohen from February 2019 when filing legal action to compel Trump's companies to comply with subpoenas about financial information.
October 2020: Constituent Workshops
In October 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was conducting workshops for constituents on workplace organizing, fighting eviction, and organizing childcare.
November 27, 2020: Twitch Stream for Charity
On November 27, 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez again streamed Among Us on Twitch with other streamers and Jagmeet Singh to raise money for food pantries, eviction defense legal aid, and community support organizations.
2020: Mention of Presidential Candidates
According to reports in March 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continued to receive media coverage early in her congressional tenure on par with that of 2020 presidential candidates.
2020: General Election Win
In 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez again won the general election against Forte, with some voters splitting their tickets between her and Trump.
2020: Support for single-payer healthcare system
In 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported transitioning to a single-payer healthcare system, considering medical care a human right, and advocated for a single government health insurer to cover every American.
2020: Re-elected to Congress
In 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was re-elected as the US representative for New York's 14th congressional district.
2020: Accusations of the justices' personal bias in the 2020 election
In July, Ocasio-Cortez officially introduced articles of impeachment against justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, co-sponsored by seven House Democrats. The resolution accused the justices of failing to recuse themselves from cases despite personal bias and not disclosing lavish gifts they received. The resolution cited the involvement of Ginni Thomas in attempts to overturn the 2020 election and the presence of "Stop the Steal" symbols on Alito's properties as personal bias.
2020: Public banking bill proposal
In late 2020, Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib proposed a public banking bill to encourage the creation of state and local public banks.
January 3, 2021: Statement on Trump-Raffensperger phone call
On January 3, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated that the Trump–Raffensperger phone call constituted an impeachable offense and called it a "despicable abuse of power".
January 2021: Support for Roadmap to Freedom resolution
In January 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voiced her support for the Roadmap to Freedom resolution, which was championed by Representative Pramila Jayapal. The resolution aimed to protect vulnerable migrants while also working to reduce the criminal prosecution of migrants.
January 20, 2021: Joining the Hunts Point Produce Market strike
On January 20, 2021, Ocasio-Cortez skipped Joe Biden's inauguration to join the 2021 Hunts Point Produce Market strike in the Bronx in support of labor rights.
February 2021: Response to reopening of Carrizo Springs center
In February 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responded to the Biden administration's decision to reopen a Carrizo Springs, Texas, center for unaccompanied migrant children. She stated that such actions were unacceptable regardless of the administration and called for mandatory licensing and reconsideration of the contracting process for these centers.
March 2021: Call for Governor Cuomo to resign
In March 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Representative Jamaal Bowman called on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign, citing sexual misconduct allegations and the New York COVID-19 nursing home scandal.
March 18, 2021: Introduction of Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021
On March 18, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez, and Senator Bob Menendez introduced a new version of the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021, with over 70 co-sponsors in the House and seven co-sponsors in the Senate.
April 15, 2021: Postal banking bill announcement
On April 15, 2021, Ocasio-Cortez and three members of Congress announced a bill to implement postal banking pilot programs in rural and low-income urban neighborhoods.
April 2021: Support for bill to increase Supreme Court size
In April 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported a bill to increase the size of the Supreme Court.
April 2021: Postal banking bill announcement
In April 2021, Ocasio-Cortez announced a bill with three senators to implement postal banking pilot programs in rural and low-income urban neighborhoods.
May 2021: Condemnation of Israeli evictions in East Jerusalem
In May 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued a statement condemning Israel's evictions of Palestinian families from their homes in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem and criticized President Biden's support for Israel's "right to defend itself".
July 2021: Proposed legislation to remove restrictions on psilocybin research
In July 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed legislation that would remove restrictions placed on researching the medical use of psilocybin.
September 2021: Call for Supreme Court expansion after Texas Heartbeat Bill
In September 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez again called for the expansion of the Supreme Court after the Court voted not to grant an emergency stay of the Texas Heartbeat Bill.
September 2021: Ethics Complaint Filed
In September 2021, the American Accountability Foundation filed an ethics complaint against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for attending the Met Gala, alleging that her attendance was an illegal gift.
September 23, 2021: Vote change on funding for Israel's Iron Dome
On September 23, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez changed her vote from "no" to "present" on a bill providing $1 billion for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, citing "hateful targeting" surrounding the bill, and apologized for the vote while maintaining her opposition due to human rights concerns.
November 5, 2021: Vote against Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
On November 5, 2021, Ocasio-Cortez was one of six House Democrats to vote against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act because it was decoupled from the Build Back Better Act's social safety net provisions.
March 2022: Call for Justice Thomas' resignation
In March 2022, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Justice Clarence Thomas to resign over his wife's texts urging President Trump's chief of staff to overturn the 2020 presidential election, raising the possibility of impeachment if he did not.
June 2022: Statement on judicial coup in progress
In June 2022, after consequential Supreme Court rulings and the granting of certiorari to Moore v. Harper, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that the US was "witnessing a judicial coup in progress".
June 2022: Call for impeachment of Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh
In June 2022, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for the impeachment of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, alleging they lied under oath about their views on Roe during their confirmation hearings.
July 19, 2022: Arrested during protest for reproductive rights
On July 19, 2022, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and 17 other members of Congress were arrested in an act of civil disobedience for refusing to clear a street during a protest for reproductive rights outside the Supreme Court Building, following the Supreme Court's overruling of Roe v. Wade.
December 2022: Vote against spending package
In December 2022, Ocasio-Cortez was the only House Democrat to vote against an omnibus spending package because it increased funding for defense and federal agencies that oversee immigration.
2022: Re-elected to Congress
In 2022, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was re-elected as the US representative for New York's 14th congressional district.
May 2023: Introduction of "Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act"
In May 2023, Ocasio-Cortez joined a bipartisan group to introduce the "Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act," which would bar members of Congress from owning or trading individual stocks.
July 18, 2023: Vote against resolution regarding Israel
On July 18, 2023, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and eight other progressive Democrats voted against a congressional non-binding resolution stating that "the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state," arguing against pairing accusations of antisemitism with concerns about human rights.
2023: Condemnation of Hamas attack on Israel and criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza
In 2023, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. On October 12, she criticized Israel's plans to block electricity, water, and fuel from Gaza, and on October 16, she signed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
2023: Voting against the Fiscal Responsibility Act
In 2023, Ocasio-Cortez was among the 46 House Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
January 2024: Response to US cutting funding to UNRWA
In January 2024, after the US and other countries cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the reports but stated that cutting funding was "unacceptable" and the US "should restore aid immediately".
March 22, 2024: Characterization of Israel's assault on Gaza as genocide
On March 22, 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez characterized Israel's assault on Gaza and the Gaza Strip famine as genocide.
June 2024: Support for Biden after Presidential Debate
Following the June 2024 presidential debate, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who previously supported Biden, stated that she had spoken with him and that he made clear he was staying in the race. She expressed her support for him and her focus on defeating Republicans in the election.
June 2024: Criticism of the Supreme Court and introduction of the "High Court Gift Ban Act"
In June 2024, Ocasio-Cortez criticized the Supreme Court following reports of undisclosed gifts to Clarence Thomas. She co-led a meeting about the Court and introduced the "High Court Gift Ban Act" on June 25.
July 2024: Support for the "DEFIANCE Act"
In July 2024, Ocasio-Cortez supported and co-led the "DEFIANCE Act," which would allow people to sue creators and distributors of non-consensual deepfake pornography, an issue she had personal experience with.
December 2024: House Oversight Committee bid
In December 2024, Ocasio-Cortez ran for ranking member of the House Oversight Committee but lost to Gerry Connolly. She later declined to run again when Connolly vacated the position, citing unchanged caucus dynamics.
2024: Boycott of Netanyahu's speech and condemnation of Lebanon attacks
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez boycotted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress, calling him a war criminal. Later in September, she condemned the Lebanon electronic device attacks.
2024: Statement on killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez commented on the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, stating that it was "not to say that an act of violence is justified" but that "people interpret and feel and experience denied claims as an act of violence against them".
2024: Re-elected to Congress
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was re-elected as the US representative for New York's 14th congressional district.
2024: Introduction of "Green New Deal for Public Housing"
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with the support of Bowman and Sanders, introduced the "Green New Deal for Public Housing", which aimed to fund the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and facilitate its transition to clean energy.
2024: Support for Lina Khan
In 2024, Ocasio-Cortez discussed corporate power with Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan. She defended Khan after Mark Cuban criticized her.
2024: Speech at the Democratic National Convention
In 2024, Ocasio-Cortez gave a primetime speech at the Democratic National Convention, supporting the Harris-Walz campaign and criticizing Trump. Her speech addressed the Gaza war and led to speculation about her future political ambitions.
2025: Opposition to American Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites
In 2025, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez opposed American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, stating that such actions would be "absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment".
2025: Increased fundraising and public perception
In the first quarter of 2025, Ocasio-Cortez raised $9.6 million. In May, Harris praised her, Vance criticized the idea of her running for president, and Trump commented on her charisma and debating skills.
2028: Calls to primary Schumer
In March, Ocasio-Cortez criticized a federal budget proposal, and after Schumer announced his support, several House Democrats suggested she primary Schumer in the 2028 New York Senate elections.
2028: Possible presidential run
In March, Ocasio-Cortez joined Sanders on the "Fighting Oligarchy Tour" and became viewed as a potential successor and candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
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