The AOC endorses Elliott Engel’s challenge in the Bronx congressional race

WASHINGTON – Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes has endorsed the Democratic primary challenge of a veteran House committee leader whose New York district is close to its own, a progressive freshman’s latest challenge to party leaders.

In less than two years, one of Congress’s most recognized names and faces, Ocasio-Cortez, used a series of tweets late Wednesday afternoon to announce his endorsement of Jamal Bowman.

This means that Ocasio-Cortez is trying to topple fellow Democratic Republican President Elliot Engel, 73, chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee. Engel, a liberal, is in his 16th House seat, representing a district from parts of the Bronx and Westchester, next to the Oaxacio-Cortez home base of the Bronx and Queens.

“This moment requires renewed and revitalized leadership across the country and on the ballot box,” Ocasio-Cortes, 30, He tweeted when he offered his support to Bowman.

When nationwide protests against the killing of black men by police officers and President Donald Trump demonstrated physical strength and slander against protesters, some of them became violent.

Boman, an African-American, called himself a “profound social leader.” Engel’s district has mostly black and Hispanic voters.

The move by Ocasio-Cortez also violated House Democratic leaders, who stood behind party positions facing major challenges. When he first entered Congress last year, Ocasio-Cortez and three young new women – who call themselves “The Squad” – clashed repeatedly with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Though those battles have subsided in recent months.

Engel has raised more than $ 1.6 million in March over the trip of three Bowman. But Engel is accused of spending enough time in his district, and Bowman’s challenge is considered legitimate.

After Engel heard at a news conference demanding time to address the meeting, Bowman demanded a fundraising bonus this week. He told the event organizer that he would “not care” about speaking up if he did not face a major event.

Engel Campaign spokesman Tom Watson said the legislator praised the “combined skills, ethics and experience” of colleagues, including Pelosi, civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., And the Congressional Black Caucus.

Watson also issued a statement in which Engel explained his concept of the news conference, “I thought it was important for people to know where I stand in the race for reelection.”

Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed two other challenges for the Conservative House Democrats for this year’s elections. Mary Newman defeated Rep. Daniel Lipinski in an Illinois district south of Chicago, while Rep. Henry Culler defeated Jessica Cisneros, his Ocasio-Cortez-backed opponent.

A spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said the House Democrats’ political group looks forward to “continuing to serve its community in the years to come.”

The district is solidly democratic, with the primary winner all elected in November.