(Headline USA) Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney, who recently lost reelection, blasted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., this week for failing to help New York Democrats defend their majority.
Maloney’s district was one of six that Republicans picked up during Tuesday’s midterm elections, with more still too close to call. While Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul managed to win reelection, Democrats lost badly down-ballot.
Radical progressives like Ocasio-Cortez bear some of the blame, Maloney argued.
“The last time I ran into A.O.C., we were beating her endorsed candidate two to one in a primary, and I didn’t see her one minute of these midterms helping our House majority. So, I’m not sure what kind of advice she has, but I’m sure she’ll be generous with it,” he told the New York Times.
Ocasio-Cortez “had almost nothing to do with what turned out to be an historic defense of our majority,” he continued.
“Didn’t pay a dollar of dues. Didn’t do anything for our frontline candidates except give them money when they didn’t want it from her,” he said.
Maloney has had a bone to pick with Ocasio-Cortez ever since she endorsed his leftist primary challenger in June. He blamed her for dividing the party and trying to push it even further to the Left even though that’s not what voters want.
“There are other voices who should be heard, especially when suburban voters have clearly rejected the ideas that she’s most associated with, from defunding the police on down,” Maloney said. “She’s an important voice in our politics. But when it comes to passing our agenda through the Congress, or standing our ground on the political battlefield, she was nowhere to be found.”
Ocasio-Cortez responded to Maloney’s jabs by claiming she raised money for his reelection effort.
Let’s make something crystal clear:
– SPM courted me for donations to swing races & it was the 1st thing I did this term. Over a quarter million for Dems this cycle, DCCC facilitated some & now he denies it.
– If he isn’t aware of my visit to CA & efforts we put in, that’s on him https://t.co/eACfScbB3T— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 11, 2022
