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, commonly known as AOC, is a prominent American politician and activist. She has served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019. As a member of the Democratic Party, she is known for her progressive political views and active use of social media to engage with constituents and the public. She has been a vocal advocate for policies addressing climate change, economic inequality, and social justice, often championing proposals such as the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.
2004: Challenging Joe Crowley
In 2017, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the first person since 2004 to challenge Joe Crowley in the primary.
April 2017: Campaign Launch
In April 2017, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez began her campaign while working as a waitress and bartender 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: Criticism of ICE
In February 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed support for defunding and abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling it "a product of the Bush-era Patriot Act suite of legislation" and "an enforcement agency that takes on more of a paramilitary tone every single day".
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: Primary Election Win
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 Trump's First Impeachment
On June 28, 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told CNN she would support the first impeachment of President Trump, citing Trump's alleged violations of the Emoluments Clause and saying that everyone should be held accountable.
July 2018: Campaigning with Bernie Sanders in Kansas
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.
August 2018: Netroots Nation Conference
In August 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at the Netroots Nation conference and was called "the undisputed star of the convention".
November 2018: Social media presence
In November 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had 1.4 million followers on X (formerly Twitter).
November 2018: Congressional Orientation and Pelosi Support
In November 2018, during her congressional orientation, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participated in a climate change protest outside Nancy Pelosi's office and supported Pelosi's bid for Speaker of the House, conditional on Pelosi remaining the most progressive candidate.
2018: Article on Faith and Criminal Justice Reform
In 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez discussed her Catholic faith and its impact on her life and her campaign for criminal justice reform in an article she wrote for America, the magazine of the Jesuit order in the United States.
2018: Appearance in Fahrenheit 11/9
In 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of the subjects of the Michael Moore documentary "Fahrenheit 11/9", which chronicled her primary campaign.
2018: Filming of Knock Down the House
In 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of the subjects of the documentary "Knock Down the House", which focused on her primary campaign.
2018: Election Win and Democratic Victory
In 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won the general election with 78% of the vote, and the Democratic Party gained control of the House by picking up 41 seats.
2018: Lack of Media Coverage
Until she defeated incumbent Joe Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary, Ocasio-Cortez received little coverage on most traditional news media outlets.
January 3, 2019: Ocasio-Cortez Enters 116th Congress
On January 3, 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez entered the 116th Congress with no seniority but a significant social media presence, which Axios noted as comparable to her fellow freshman Democrats combined.
January 2019: Most-Watched C-SPAN Twitter Video
In January 2019, C-SPAN tweeted a video of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's first speech on the floor of Congress, which became their most-watched Twitter video of a House member within 12 hours.
January 2019: Speech at NYC Women's March
In January 2019, at the New York City Women's March in Manhattan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gave a detailed speech in support of measures needed to ensure LGBT+ equality in the workplace and elsewhere.
February 7, 2019: Green New Deal Submitted to House
On February 7, 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez submitted the Green New Deal to the House. This was a joint non-binding resolution with Senator Ed Markey that outlined a 10-year plan for phasing out fossil fuels and overhauling the nation's infrastructure, aiming to create jobs and implement a 'social cost of carbon.'
February 2019: Congressional Hearing on Ethics Regulations
In February 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned a panel of campaign finance watchdog groups about ethics regulations for the President and members of Congress, asserting the absence of regulations preventing lawmakers from being "bought off by wealthy corporations". The clip became the most-watched political video on Twitter.
February 2019: Questioning of Michael Cohen
In February 2019, during Michael Cohen's testimony before the Oversight Committee, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned him about Donald Trump inflating property values. Cohen's response implied Trump may have committed tax and bank fraud, leading to a praised 'road map' for further investigation.
March 2019: High Media Coverage
According to reports in March 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received media coverage on par with 2020 presidential candidates and was considered a leading figure in the Democratic party and one of the most talked-about politicians in the United States.
March 2019: Time Magazine Recognition
In March 2019, Time Magazine described Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the "second-most talked about politician" in the United States, after Trump, and labeled her as "the Wonder Woman of the left."
March 2019: UK Activists Propose Similar Plan
In March 2019, a group of UK activists inspired by the Sunrise Movement and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's work proposed that the Labour Party adopt a similar plan to the Green New Deal, titled 'Labour for a Green New Deal'.
April 7, 2019: Intense Fox News Coverage Ends
According to a Media Matters for America study, on April 7, 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was intensely discussed on Fox News and Fox Business for 42 consecutive days, totaling 3,181 mentions.
May 1, 2019: Netflix Release of Knock Down the House
On May 1, 2019, the documentary "Knock Down the House", which features Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and three other female Democrats, was released by Netflix.
May 2019: Return to bartending to promote Raise the Wage Act
In May 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez returned to bartending at the Queensboro Restaurant to promote the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the minimum hourly wage for restaurant servers and other tipped workers. She criticized the exemption in U.S. minimum wage law for restaurants.
June 2019: Comparison of Detention Centers to Concentration Camps
In June 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez compared the detention centers for undocumented immigrants under the Trump administration to "concentration camps", citing expert analysis.
June 2019: Proposed Legislation on Psilocybin Research
In June 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed legislation that would remove restrictions placed on researching the medical use of psilocybin.
July 14, 2019: Trump's Attack on the Squad
On July 14, 2019, President Trump attacked 'the Squad', including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in a tweet, suggesting they should "go back and help fix" their countries of origin, prompting Ocasio-Cortez to label his words as "hallmark language of white supremacists."
July 2019: Visit to Migrant Detention Centers in Texas
In July 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visited migrant detention centers and other facilities in Texas as part of a congressional delegation to witness the border crisis firsthand, calling the conditions "horrifying".
July 2019: Vote against resolution condemning Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement
In July 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voted against a House resolution condemning the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel.
July 2019: Comparison of Media Mentions
In July 2019, CNN Business found that between January and July 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had nearly three times as many mentions on Fox News as on CNN and MSNBC, indicating a disproportionate focus.
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 a violation of the First Amendment based on a similar ruling against President Trump.
September 2019: Introduction of anti-poverty policy proposal
In September 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced an anti-poverty policy proposal (packaged in a bundle called "A Just Society") that would take into account the cost of childcare, health care, and "new necessities" like Internet access when measuring poverty.
November 4, 2019: Settlement and Apology for Twitter Blocking Lawsuit
On November 4, 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez settled the lawsuit against her for blocking users on Twitter and issued an apology, following the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on similar cases.
2019: Serving as U.S. Representative
In 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez began serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district.
2019: Support for Congressional Pay Raises
In 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported pay raises for Congress, arguing that all workers should get cost of living increases.
2019: Departure of Chief of Staff
In 2019, Saikat Chakrabarti, who had been Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign co-chair and then chief of staff, departed from her congressional office, drawing speculation about a potential shift to a more moderate strategy.
February 27, 2020: Arguing for LGBTQ equality
On February 27, 2020, at the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued for LGBTQ equality, referencing a Catholic hospital's refusal to perform a hysterectomy on a transgender man and stating that rejecting medical care based on identity is not holy.
April 2020: Call for COVID-19 Data Reporting 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.
July 20, 2020: Accosted by Ted Yoho and Roger Williams
On July 20, 2020, U.S. Representatives Ted Yoho and Roger Williams accosted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the Capitol steps. Yoho called her "disgusting" and a "fucking bitch" after she suggested poverty and unemployment were driving a crime spike in New York City. Yoho later apologized for the "abrupt manner of the conversation" but not for his "passion", leading to a response from Ocasio-Cortez about the culture of violence against women.
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: NY AG Refers to Cohen Exchange in Legal Action
In August 2020, New York Attorney General Letitia James referenced Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's exchange with Michael Cohen from February 2019 when filing legal action to compel Trump's companies to comply with subpoenas and compel Eric Trump to testify.
October 2020: Constituent Workshops
In October 2020, it was noted that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was "spending the 2020 campaign running workshops" for constituents on workplace organizing, fighting eviction, and organizing childcare.
October 20, 2020: Twitch Stream of Among Us
On October 20, 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a Twitch stream of the game Among Us with Ilhan Omar and other streamers, reaching over 400,000 viewers.
November 27, 2020: Twitch Stream for Fundraising
On November 27, 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez again streamed Among Us on Twitch to raise money for food pantries, eviction defense legal aid, and community support organizations, raising $200,000.
2020: Announcing impeachment against supreme court justices.
Following the Supreme Court's ruling in Trump v. United States, in July 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced she would file articles of impeachment against justices. She introduced articles of impeachment against Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito on July 10, co-sponsored by seven House Democrats, accusing 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.
2020: Support for Medicare-for-All
In 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez advocated for transitioning to a single-payer healthcare system, considering medical care a human right and supporting a single government health insurer covering every American.
2020: Challenged in Democratic Primary
In 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was challenged by Michelle Caruso-Cabrera in the Democratic primary but won the nomination.
2020: Re-election to Congress
In 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was re-elected as the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district.
2020: Re-election Victory and Ticket Splitting
In 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won the general election. Some voters in her district split their tickets, voting for Ocasio-Cortez and for Trump in the presidential election.
2020: The Squad Grew
In 2020, Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush joined the Squad, a group of progressive members of Congress of which Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a member.
2020: Proposal of public banking bill with Rashida Tlaib
In late 2020, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib proposed a public banking bill to encourage the creation of state and local public banks, granting them access to facilities from the Federal Reserve and setting national guidelines on public banking.
January 3, 2021: Accusation of Impeachable Offense
On January 3, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said 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 expressed support for the Roadmap to Freedom resolution to guide future immigration policy, which aims to safeguard vulnerable migrants while reducing criminal prosecutions of migrants.
January 20, 2021: Joining the Hunts Point Produce Market strike
On January 20, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez skipped Joe Biden's inauguration to join the 2021 Hunts Point Produce Market strike in the Bronx.
February 2021: Response to Reopening of Migrant Child Center
In February 2021, when the Biden administration reopened a Carrizo Springs, Texas, center to house unaccompanied migrant children, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responded that such actions "never will be okay—no matter the administration or party".
March 2021: Call for Cuomo's Resignation
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 New Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act
On March 18, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nydia 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: Introduction of postal banking bill
On April 15, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and three members of Congress announced a bill to implement postal banking pilot programs in rural and low-income urban neighborhoods. This initiative aimed to provide banking services to those lacking access to traditional banks, combating high interest rates from check cashing companies.
April 2021: Announcement of postal banking bill
In April 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced a bill that she and three senators had introduced to implement postal banking pilot programs in rural and low-income urban neighborhoods.
April 2021: Support for Expanding the Supreme Court
In April 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported a bill to increase the size of the Supreme Court.
July 2021: Re-introduction of Legislation 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 expansion of the Supreme Court after the Court voted not to grant an emergency stay of the Texas Heartbeat Bill.
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 the "hateful targeting" she received. She apologized for her vote but maintained her opposition to the bill.
November 5, 2021: Vote against Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
On November 5, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of six House Democrats who voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act due to its decoupling from the social safety net provisions in the Build Back Better Act.
November 2021: Paul Gosar's social media post depicting violence against Ocasio-Cortez
In November 2021, Representative Paul Gosar posted an edited anime video depicting him attacking and killing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This led to calls for investigation and censure, with Ocasio-Cortez condemning the video as part of a pattern normalizing violence. The House voted to censure Gosar.
2021: Attends Met Gala
In 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended the Met Gala, a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, wearing a gown with the phrase "Tax the Rich". As an elected official, her ticket was complimentary.
March 2022: Call for Clarence 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 a possible impeachment effort if he did not.
June 2022: Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival
In June 2022, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared in Rachel Lears's 2022 film "To the End", which focuses on the effects of climate change, which was presented at the Tribeca Film Festival.
June 2022: Judicial Coup Tweet
In June 2022, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that the U.S. was "witnessing a judicial coup in progress" after consequential rulings by the Supreme Court and the granting of certiorari to Moore v. Harper.
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 at Reproductive Rights Protest
On July 19, 2022, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and 17 other members of Congress were arrested for civil disobedience during a protest for reproductive rights outside the Supreme Court Building after the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade.
December 2022: Vote against omnibus spending package
In December 2022, Alexandria 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-election to Congress
In 2022, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was re-elected as the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district.
2022: The Squad Grew
In 2022, Greg Casar and Summer Lee joined the Squad, a group of progressive members of Congress of which Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a member.
May 2023: Introduction of Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act
In May 2023, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined a bipartisan group to introduce the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act, which aims to bar members of Congress from owning or trading individual stocks.
July 18, 2023: Vote Against Resolution on Israel
On July 18, 2023, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and eight other progressive Democrats voted against a congressional non-binding resolution that stated "the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state", that Congress rejects "all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia", and that "the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel". She argued against pairing accusations of antisemitism with human rights concerns.
2023: Vote against Fiscal Responsibility Act
In 2023, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among the 46 House Democrats who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
January 2024: Response to UNRWA Funding Cuts
In January 2024, after the U.S. 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 reports of staff involvement in Hamas attacks but called the funding cuts "unacceptable" and urged the U.S. to restore aid immediately due to the agency's humanitarian work.
March 22, 2024: Characterization of Israel's Actions 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
After the June 2024 presidential debate, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who previously supported Biden during the campaign, said that she had spoken with Biden and that he made clear he was staying in the race. She said that she supported him and that her focus was defeating Republicans in the election.
June 2024: High Court Gift Ban Act
In June 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with Representative Jamie Raskin, introduced the "High Court Gift Ban Act", to impose restrictions on the gifts given to justices, following reports that Clarence Thomas accepted undisclosed gifts. She criticized the court for being "corrupted by money and extremism".
June 2024: Social media presence
In June 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had 13.1 million followers on X (formerly Twitter).
July 2024: Support for the DEFIANCE Act
In July 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez co-led and supported the "DEFIANCE Act", which would allow people to sue creators and distributors of non-consensual deepfake pornography of themselves. She has been a victim of this.
September 18, 2024: Condemnation of Israel for Lebanon Pager Explosions
On September 18, 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned Israel for the 2024 Lebanon pager explosions.
December 2024: Bid for ranking member of House Oversight Committee
In December 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a bid for ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, but was unsuccessful, losing to Gerry Connolly.
2024: Boycott of Netanyahu's Speech
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez boycotted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress, referring to him as a war criminal.
2024: Comment on UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez commented on the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, stating that while violence is not justified, people may feel that denied claims are an act of violence against them.
2024: Ocasio-Cortez's speech at the Democratic National Convention
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a major convention speech at the Democratic National Convention, supporting the Harris-Walz campaign. She criticized Trump and addressed the Gaza war, mentioning Harris's efforts for a ceasefire and hostage deal.
2024: Defense of Lina Khan
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took part in a live-streamed roundtable with Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. Later, in response to investor Mark Cuban's criticism of Khan, Ocasio-Cortez defended Khan.
2024: Re-election to Congress
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was re-elected as the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district.
2024: Green New Deal for Public Housing
In 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, supported by Bowman and Sanders, introduced the "Green New Deal for Public Housing", a plan to fund the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and help it transition to clean energy.
2024: The Squad Grew
In 2024, Delia Ramirez joined the Squad, a group of progressive members of Congress of which Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a member.
March 2025: Social media presence
As of March 2025, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the most followed user on Bluesky, with 2 million followers.
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