Taking office at age 29, Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman to serve in the United States Congress. Ocasio-Cortez went on to defeat Pappas in the district election. She was the first person since 2004 to challenge Crowley in a primary, and she undertook a grassroots campaign without donations from corporations or PACs.
Ocasio-Cortez began her campaign in April 2017 while waiting tables and tending bar at Flats Fix, a taqueria in New York City's Union Square. As the results were tabulated, the race drew national recognition when it became clear that Ocasio-Cortez would win over Crowley, the Democratic Caucus Chairman and a 10-term incumbent. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated incumbent congressman Joe Crowley in the primary, and went on to defeat Republican opponent Anthony Pappas in the general election.Īs a political newcomer, Ocasio-Cortez was not expected to defeat Crowley in the primary election. The primaries for New York's federal elections were held earlier in the year on June 26. The 2018 New York's 14th congressional district election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
