Watch the inspiring campaign ad that launched Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a stunning primary win

Newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez didn't have name recognition in politics or financial backing from Washington, but her grassroots organizing earned her a big win nonetheless.

Ocasio-Cortez unseated the No. 4 House Democrat, Rep. Joe Crowley (N.Y.), in Tuesday's primary for New York's 14th District, rallying the community behind her with progressive messaging. Her inspiring campaign ad shows how she communicated her background as a "working class New Yorker" who wanted to create change.

"This race is about people versus money — we've got people, they've got money," says Ocasio-Cortez in the ad. "After 20 years of the same representation, we have to ask: Who has New York been changing for?"

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The first-time candidate criticized politicians like Crowley who don't live in their districts and therefore "cannot possibly represent us." She went on to describe her platform, promising to work for Medicare for all, tuition-free public college, a federal jobs guarantee, and criminal justice reform.

"We can do it now," she says. "It doesn't take a hundred years to do this, it takes political courage." Watch the full ad below. Summer Meza

YouTube

Watch On