Democrats Consider Eliminating Ocasio-Cortez's New York District in 2020

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Democrats in New York are considering redrawing the state's map in order to eliminate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's district after the 2020 election, according to reports.

Neon Nettle recently reported that a group of "furious" New York Democrats is reportedly plotting to oust Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) with a primary challenge to make her a "one-term congressperson."

According to a report by the Hill, several Democrats are considering whether to primary challenge Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat socialist and a rising figure in Democratic circles.

Ocasio-Cortez upset the old order of the Democratic Party last year when she unseated veteran senior Democrat Joe Crowley.

Reportedly, at least one House Democrat has been urging the New York delegation to recruit a local politician from either the Bronx or Queens, New York, to challenge the progressive socialist.

“What I have recommended to the New York delegation is that you find her a primary opponent and make her a one-term congressperson,” the Democrat congressman anonymously told the Hill's Scott Wong.

“You’ve got numerous council people and state legislators who’ve been waiting 20 years for that seat,” the lawmaker added.

"I’m sure they can find numerous people who want that seat in that district."

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According to The Intercept, following the 2020 census, every state will draw new district boundaries to reflect changes in the population, the political implications of which will stretch for at least the next decade.

In 2014, New York approved a constitutional amendment establishing a nonpartisan redistricting commission, which is set to take over the redistricting process starting in 2020.

The 10-member commission, meant to be independent of the legislature, is made up of individuals selected by leaders from the state Senate and Assembly, and the original eight members pick two additional members.

But Ocasio-Cortez’s most determined adversaries are not partisan Republicans, but Democrats who say that she has been a disruptive influence. 

The Hill recently reported that at least one member of Congress has been urging New York party leaders to recruit a Democratic primary challenger to Ocasio-Cortez.

But the news led to a surge of donations to Ocasio-Cortez, suggesting that a more efficient means of ousting her might be simply to eliminate her district.

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The Daily Caller followed up on the article in The Hill and spoke to New York Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who said three names were floating around as potential challengers to Ocasio-Cortez: New York City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Sen. Julia Salazar, and Assembly Member Catalina Cruz.

“It’s very hard to see her losing in 2020 today. But five minutes in politics is 30 years with anything else. It’s very hard to see her losing,” Sheinkopf told The Daily Caller.

“Why? She’s created a persona and excitement and interest at a time when politics seems to be tawdry and disgraceful and that gives her an edge– and in doing so she seems to be serving her constituency.”

Sheinkopf, however, did not think that Elizabeth Crowley, the cousin of former Congressman Joe Crowley, the Democratic incumbent that Ocasio Cortez defeated in the 2018 primary, would run.

“Take Crowley off the list. It’s just not even close,” he said.

As far as more senior New York Democrats who have been waiting years to run for the seat, Sheinkopf says, “The funny thing about seniority is it’s a bad argument about her because if that were the case Joe Crowley would have never been defeated.”

He added, “So it’s not about seniority, it’s about the moment and it’s about anger.

"It is about the angry moment that is getting people to think about things less and about the future context but more in the moment.”