Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known as “AOC,” is an American politician and educator who has quickly become one of the most well-known figures in contemporary politics. With a net worth of approximately $200,000, Ocasio-Cortez’s rise to prominence began when she won the Democratic primary for New York’s 14th congressional district in 2018. This victory led her to a landmark general election win, making her the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
Before she entered the political arena, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced the challenges of supporting her family after the untimely death of her father. She worked as a bartender and waitress while attending Boston University, where she earned a degree in economics and international relations. This experience of balancing work and education would shape her future political ideals.
As a Congresswoman, Ocasio-Cortez has been a passionate advocate for progressive policies such as the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and free public college education. She has also been active on multiple congressional committees, including the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Oversight and Reform. Known for her dynamic presence on social media and her fearless challenge to the Democratic Party establishment, she has become a leading figure in the progressive movement. While her outspoken views have drawn both praise and criticism, she has undeniably played a key role in galvanizing younger voters and energizing political discourse.
Salary and Financial Disclosures of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Ocasio-Cortez receives an annual salary of $174,000 as a member of Congress. However, her financial disclosures provide a deeper look into her personal financial journey. In April 2018, Alexandria filed a disclosure revealing that she had savings between $1,000 and $15,000 and checking account balances ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. She also had approximately $50,000 in student loan debt. In 2017, she earned $26,581 working at a coffee shop/taqueria. Additionally, during her campaign, she earned $6,000 as a salary.
During her first year as a Congresswoman, Alexandria received her Congressional salary, along with health insurance, retirement benefits, and a $3,000 living expense credit. Despite her success, she was ranked among the least wealthy members of the 116th Congress, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Early Life and Educational Background
Born on October 13, 1989, in New York City, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the daughter of Blanca Ocasio-Cortez and Sergio Ocasio-Cortez. She also has a younger brother named Gabriel. Tragically, her father passed away in 2012. Her father had been a small business owner, and her mother worked as a house cleaner. When Ocasio-Cortez was just five years old, her family relocated to Yorktown Heights, a suburban neighborhood in New York.
Throughout her early years, Ocasio-Cortez excelled academically. She attended Yorktown High School, where she placed second in the microbiology category at the 2007 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Her family sold their home in Yorktown for $355,000 in 2016.
After high school, Ocasio-Cortez enrolled at Boston University, where she graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and economics. While in college, she interned for U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and faced the responsibility of managing her father’s estate, which impacted her deeply.
Ocasio-Cortez’s Professional Journey Before Politics
Following her graduation, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez worked in various roles to support her family, including as a bartender and waitress. These jobs were vital in helping her mother avoid foreclosure. She also founded a publishing company, Brook Avenue Press, which aimed to promote a positive image of the Bronx, where she grew up.
In 2016, she took on the role of an organizer for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. This experience gave her the opportunity to visit places like Flint, Michigan, and the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota, where she saw firsthand the struggles of communities affected by the water crisis and the Dakota Access Pipeline. It was during these travels that she realized that politics could be more accessible than she had previously thought. Shortly afterward, she received a call from Brand New Congress, a progressive organization looking to recruit new candidates.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Political Ascent
In April 2017, Ocasio-Cortez launched her campaign for Congress while working at a taqueria in Union Square, New York. She challenged Joe Crowley, the Democratic Caucus Chair, in the primary election. Despite being vastly underfunded compared to Crowley, she managed to run a successful grassroots campaign, relying on mobilizing the support of regular citizens rather than corporate donors. Crowley did not attend a scheduled debate, and the two candidates met only once during the campaign.
Ocasio-Cortez’s victory in the Democratic primary was nothing short of historic. She earned over 57% of the vote, defeating Crowley in what was widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets of the 2018 election season. Her success was widely covered in the media, with publications like “Time” hailing her win. She then faced Republican nominee Anthony Pappas in the general election and triumphed with 78% of the vote.
Her victory in 2018 contributed to the broader Democratic push that allowed the party to regain control of the House of Representatives. At just 29 years old, Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman ever to serve in the U.S. Congress, a milestone that further cemented her place in political history.
AOC and the Progressive Movement
Ocasio-Cortez’s political positions align with her membership in the Democratic Socialists of America. She champions several progressive policies, including single-payer Medicare for All, tuition-free public college, the cancellation of student debt, guaranteed family leave, and the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She has been a vocal advocate for stronger environmental policies, particularly about climate change.
One of her most ambitious proposals is the Green New Deal, which calls for a transition to an electrical grid powered entirely by renewable energy sources, as well as the end of fossil fuel use. She has also proposed higher taxes on the wealthy to fund the Green New Deal and other progressive initiatives. Additionally, Ocasio-Cortez has advocated for civil rights reforms in Puerto Rico, including voting rights and disaster relief.
As a member of the U.S. Congress, Ocasio-Cortez has continued to stand out as a member of “The Squad,” a group of progressive and younger representatives that includes Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, and Jamaal Bowman. Together, they represent some of the most dynamic voices within the Democratic Party, pushing for bold change in the political.
