AOC Tells Democrats She’s Willing to Give Up Her Rebel Ways

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who shocked the political world in 2018 when she unseated 10-time incumbent Joe Crowley in a heated Democratic primary, has told colleagues that the rebel life may no longer be for her.

According to a report in Politico, citing three people familiar with the conversations, AOC has privately told elected Democrats she may not back future primary challenges to her incumbent colleagues.

Since her election, AOC has been affiliated with the informal left-wing House group known as The Squad, whose members Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Cori Bush (D-MO) were also elected to office after unseating incumbents in primary challenges.

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Her first bid for office was backed by Justice Democrats, a progressive political action committee that has gone on to back other left wing candidates in races against elected Democrats.

In a reversal of fate, Bowman and Bush were defeated in primaries earlier this year.

But, her Squad colleagues’ troubles aside, AOC’s olive branch likely has more to do with her future in the Democratic Party than her chances on the hustings.

While she comfortably fended off a primary challenge earlier this year and cruised to re-election, she is currently trying to convince her colleagues that she is worthy of the party’s top post on the House Oversight Committee.

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Pundits, meanwhile, have begun floating her name as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

On Tuesday, the House Democratic caucus will pick between 35-year-old AOC and 74-year-old Gerry Connolly (D-VA) for the Oversight gig.

While AOC’s bid for the post showed initial promise, 84-year-old former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has been campaigning against AOC among the Democratic ranks, according to multiple reports, despite her professed retirement from leadership.

AOC lost a House Democratic Steering Committee vote to Connolly, 34-27, on Monday, in a sign of Pelosi’s lasting influence on senior caucus members.

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While steering votes are rarely rejected by the Democratic caucus, they’re not an absolute guarantee and a close vote is expected.

“She has an incredible ability to communicate with so much of the country,” one member of the Steering Committee told Politico’s Playbook newsletter on Monday. “And I think there’s a missed opportunity to not have that at the table.”

There are also signs Pelosi’s influence in the party has waned: While she tried to whip votes for Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) to be the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) won the Steering Committee vote Monday.

“Does it help or does it hurt to have Nancy Pelosi making calls for you?” one AOC ally asked Axios.

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