AOC blasts 2020 primary challenger claiming she was picked because she's also Latina 

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has claimed that her 2020 primary challenger Michelle Caruso-Cabrera was picked by forces with ‘cynical powers’ because she’s also Latina.

The congresswoman, known as AOC, claimed in an interview with the Democratic Socialists of America publication Democratic Left that unnamed forces chose Caruso-Cabrera to confuse voters. 

Her comments came after the progressive publication asked her why she thinks conservatives such as Fox News have worked to make her ‘a bogeyman for the right wing.’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed in an interview with Democratic Left that unnamed forces chose Michelle Caruso-Cabrera to confuse voters

Ocasio-Cortez had demolished Caruso-Cabrera, pictured, in the June 23, 2020 primary with 75% of the vote

‘I honestly believe that what was just attempted was: We’re going to throw the book at any candidate like this. We’re going to make an example out of her for everyone else. And then we’re just going to tar and feather her in the press,’ she said.

‘And then we’re going to mount a $3million Democratic primary challenge against her that’s bankrolled by Wall Street, that was also a Latina, down to having a hyphenated last name.’

Ocasio-Cortez had demolished Caruso-Cabrera, a former CNBC contributor, in the  June 23, 2020 primary with 75% of the vote. 

 ‘And it was just the most cynical, disgusting thing,’ Ocasio-Cortez said.

She added: ‘And not only was it not successful, but we crushed them, just completely crushed them.’

Don McIntosh, who conducted the interview, then commented: ‘It was very exciting to see that result.’

Ocasio-Cortez responded: ‘It is exciting.’

‘They weaponized all the cynical powers of trying to get someone of my ethnicity, trying to even confuse people in terms of the name — Caruso-Cabrera versus Ocasio-Cortez,’ she said.

The Democratic Socialist then blasted Caruso-Cabrera for being ”desperately unsuccessful’ despite the fact that ‘she had TV and camera training and all of it.’ 

Caruso-Cabrera has since launched a 2021 campaign for City Comptroller to replace Scott M. Stringer, who is now running for mayor of New York City.

A spokeswoman for Caruso-Cabrera told the New York Daily News that ‘there were no special forces behind that race.’

‘That’s not grounded in any reality,’ Caruso-Cabrera campaign manager Arielle Confino told the Daily News on Friday. ‘She entered that race on her own accord.’

Caruso-Cabrera had faced criticism from progressives during her campaign for accepting contributions from Wall Street executives – spending more than $2million to unseat Ocasio-Cortez.

During the lengthy interview, Ocasio-Cortez also called the Green New Deal ‘f****** fun.’ 

‘We have to make Green New Deal something that everyone wants to be a part of. I think people sometimes are dismissive of this, in thinking that it’s less serious than study,’ she said.

‘But who’s gonna join your book club if it sucks? Who’s gonna join your reading group if they feel judged?’

She continued: ‘So the important thing we need to do is to really create something, excuse my language, but that’s f****** fun.’