Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told The New York Times that Democrats essentially forbid her from coming to the state to campaign for Terry McAuliffe.
She suggested that the decision cost McAuliffe the governorship. The progressive congresswoman previously called McAuliffe’s campaign “super-moderate.” She added that the former and would-be governor failed to excite the party’s progressive base.
.@AOC finds a silver lining in Virginia election losses.
“I think that the results show the limits of trying to run a fully 100% super moderated campaign” pic.twitter.com/NjjiQQ5uU7
— John Gage (@johnrobertgage) November 4, 2021
Fox News reports:
“Before the Virginia elections, it was very clear that our help and our participation was not wanted or asked for, which is fine. I’m not here to tell people how to run their races,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “But at the same time, to consider the members here that have some of the tightest relationships to our political base as just a uniform liability – and not something that can be selectively deployed, or consulted, or anything – I think it’s just sad. I think it was a mistake.
“And we saw a big youth turnout collapse,” she continued. “Not a single person asked me to send an email, not even to my own list. And then they turn around and say, ‘It’s their fault.’ When I think it was communicated quite expressly that we were unwelcome to pitch in.
“The idea that we just accept a collapse in youth turnout – and essentially turn it into a self-fulfilling prophecy – in times when races are decided by such narrow margin points: I think it’s ill advised,” she added.
McAuliffe, who previously served one term in the Virginia governor’s seat from 2014 to 2018, held onto a single-digit lead over Youngkin in the months leading up to Election Day, but was ultimately defeated even after campaigning with President Biden, Vice President Harris, former President Obama, and other top Democrats.