Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is arguing that the Democrat candidate in Virginia’s gubernatorial candidate lost because he waged a “moderated” campaign that did not excite progressive voters.
In a series of videos posted on her Instagram story on Wednesday night, Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged that “everyone wants to be a Debbie downer” about Democratic losses in Tuesday’s elections.
The New York Congresswoman turned to Virginia’s gubernatorial election, “On the election front, I actually think we have good news.”
“I know that Virginia was a huge bummer, and honestly, if anything, I think the results show the limits of trying to run a fully 100% super moderated campaign that does not excite, speak to, or energize a progressive base,” she continued.
Additionally, she argued that progressives had “a lot of victories in other parts of the country.” She noted the election of Tiffany Caban and Shahana Hanif, who were elected to the New York City Council.
Finally, Ocasio-Cortez pointed out Michelle Wu who was elected the mayor of Boston.
Watch the video below:
.@AOC finds a silver lining in Virginia election losses.
— John Gage (@johnrobertgage) November 4, 2021
“I think that the results show the limits of trying to run a fully 100% super moderated campaign” pic.twitter.com/NjjiQQ5uU7
On Tuesday, Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated his Democratic opponent, Terry McAuliffe, and became the first Republican to win a statewide election since 2009, as IJR reported.
Additionally, Mayor Byron Brown (D), the mayor of Buffalo, New York, who lost his party’s primary to a Democratic Socialist candidate, waged a write-in campaign and was expected to win reelection.
During an appearance on CNN on Thursday, Brown declared, “It clearly is a rebuke of defund the police, it is a rebuke of socialism, and I think there were those from outside the city of Buffalo that underestimated the Buffalo community. They tried to come in and tell us who to vote for, and the people fought back, and we won.”
As Politico noted, “Their emboldened stance in the wake of the devastating loss for Democrats in Virginia, as well as setbacks in New Jersey, Minneapolis and Buffalo, N.Y., suggests that progressives will not change course ahead of the 2022 midterms.”
“Instead, the left is determined to win the battle over the narrative of 2021, the outcome of which could help shape how Democrats campaign next year. They argue that in order to both inspire the party base and win over swing voters like suburban women, Democrats need to pass bold policies such as paid parental leave, prescription drug reform, and Medicare expansion,” it added.
