Ocasio-Cortez to speak at Democratic convention

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) will speak at the virtual Democratic National Convention, organizers confirmed on Tuesday, after it was initially unclear whether or not she would have a slot.

The first-term New York congresswoman and progressive standard-bearer will speak next Tuesday. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), for whom Ocasio-Cortez served as a prominent surrogate, is also set to address the convention on Monday.

After Sanders exited the race, Ocasio-Cortez co-chaired a climate task force developed as part of Sanders’s and former Vice President Joe Biden’s unity commission. The task force’s recommendations formed the basis for much of the Democratic Party’s 2020 environmental platform.

Ocasio-Cortez will be one of several prominent Hispanic officials speaking at the virtual event. Democratic officials told CNN that former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) are also set to speak.

“Latinos are an integral part of the fabric of this nation, which is why we are making significant efforts to ensure Latino voices and experiences are highlighted throughout the Democratic National Convention,” said Julie Chávez Rodriguez, a senior adviser to the Biden campaign, told CNN. “Latino voters are critical to our path to victory, and as we continue to make our case for Vice President Biden, we will keep investing in reaching out to Latino voters and uplifting individual stories to showcase the diversity and experiences of Latinos throughout the country.”

The theme of the Aug. 17-20 convention is set to be “Uniting America,” with the Democratic Party highlighting support for Biden, its presumptive nominee, from both moderates and figures on the party’s left flank who supported Sanders. The first-night lineup of former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), Sanders and former first lady Michelle Obama is also intended to highlight a broad ideological cross-section backing Biden.

Politico reported late last week that Democrats were split on how prominent a role to give Ocasio-Cortez. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D), a close Biden confidant, told the publication he believed the party’s progressive wing was already sufficiently represented by Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), who is scheduled to speak on Wednesday.

— This report was updated at 8:37 a.m.