Ocasio-Cortez fends off challenger in House primary

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez easily won the Democratic primary in New York’s 14th District, virtually guaranteeing herself a second House term in the safe blue district.

Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive star, fended off Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a former CNBC television anchor who attracted the support of moderates and had the backing of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which usually endorses Republicans. She was leading with 74 percent of the vote, compared to Caruso-Cabrera’s 19 percent, with less 2 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.

Caruso-Cabrera also had financial support of a handful of Wall Street executives and raised more than $2 million while plowing $1 million of her own money into the campaign.

But Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign team and fundraising abilities are nearly unmatched in the House. She has spent more than $6 million this cycle defending her seat and has built a massive political team and an even bigger money machine.

The New York Democrat has nearly 40 staffers on her campaign, a team more comparable to that of a top-tier Senate campaign than a congresswoman seeking reelection in a safe seat.

Ocasio-Cortez surged to political stardom after defeating longtime Rep. Joseph Crowley (D) in 2018.

A handful of progressive insurgent candidates have followed in Ocasio-Cortez’s footsteps, with Jamaal Bowman looking likely to oust 16-term Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) in a primary that was also being decided on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in Kentucky, progressive Charles Booker was looking to prevail on Tuesday over Democratic establishment favorite Amy McGrath in the primary to determine who faces off against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in November.

Ocasio-Cortez will enter the general election as the heavy favorite in the reliably Democratic House district.