Democratic House members are trying to rein in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Politico is reporting.
Some of the lawmakers want her to help unite Democrats and focus her attacks on the Republicans, while others warn she has to stop treating her own party as the enemy, the website noted. Incumbent Democrats are especially concerned about her threat to support primary opponents against party members she feels are too moderate, according to Politico.
And her nearly 3 million Twitter followers add to her clout.
“I’m sure Ms. Cortez means well, but there’s almost an outstanding rule: Don’t attack your own people,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. “We just don’t need sniping in our Democratic Caucus.”
And one House Democrat, who shares Ocasio-Cortez’s progressive ideology added: “She needs to decide: Does she want to be an effective legislator or just continue being a Twitter star? There’s a difference between being an activist and a lawmaker in Congress.”
Even before taking office, she was reported to have recruited an unidentified woman to challenge Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., in 2020. Jeffries is the new Democratic Caucus chair.
But some Democratic lawmakers believe she will eventually come around to supporting the party line.
“She’s new here, feeling her way around,” added Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore. “She doesn’t understand how the place works yet.”
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