Ocasio-Cortez Endorses Entire Slate of Democratic Socialists in NY

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday endorsed all 13 candidates running for the New York state Legislature on a progressive slate backed by the nation’s largest Democratic Socialists of America chapter.

DSA For the Many tweeted the Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) endorsement early Thursday morning, proclaiming that “as AOC knows—when we fight together, we win together!”

The development was first reported by Jacobin.

 The 13 endorsees include four incumbent state assembly members, two sitting state senators, and seven insurgent candidates, including social worker Illapa Sairitupac (AD-65), tech worker Kristen Gonzalez (SD-59), cab driver David Alexis (SD-21), and climate activist Sarahana Shrestha (AD-103).

According to the Jacobin report, this is the biggest slate in NYC-DSA’s history. The 2018 midterm elections saw both AOC and state senator Julia Salazar win their seats. In 2020, a larger slate ran — Mamdani, Mitaynes, Forrest, and Brisport — and all four won their elections. (Gallagher wasn’t endorsed by NYC-DSA at the time, but she ran as a socialist, won, and has since worked closely with the DSA slate and joined it as an endorsee this year.)

The report further adds that last year, NYC-DSA competed in city council races, with two wins and four losses. The latter development was seized on by opponents to construct a narrative claiming that popular sentiment is turning against the organization. Such developments can drain morale within a political organization.

This year, it’s likely that with its map expanded to thirteen races, NYC-DSA will face some losses — but the wins will be significant, and all the campaigns will help NYC-DSA grow in new communities.

“This is not about one candidate,” Shrestha told Jacobin.

“One candidate is not going to be able to do anything alone,” she added. “We have developed knowledge as part of a movement.”

Originally published at Commondreams.org, written by Brett Wilkins.