From Progressive Firebrand to Mainstream Politician: The Evolution of AOC in American Politics

When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) emerged on the political stage, she ignited enthusiasm among progressives. After the disappointing results of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns, the progressive movement sought a new figurehead, and Ocasio-Cortez seemed to fit the bill. A former bartender who campaigned vigorously in 2018, she appeared to connect with ordinary Americans and quickly gained prominence. Supported by Brand New Congress and Justice Democrats, which aimed to elect progressive candidates, she was successfully elected to Congress.

Initially, AOC faced resistance from established politicians, but she gradually found her footing in Washington, D.C. However, over time, some of her progressive ideals appeared to shift toward mainstream politics. Notably, her vote against rail workers’ right to strike and her stance on Amazon unions suggested a departure from her progressive platform. Perhaps her most significant shift has been her stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite ongoing concerns about Palestinian suffering, Ocasio-Cortez has supported U.S. policies that favor Israel’s right to self-defense.

This has puzzled many of her supporters, especially as other members of “The Squad,” like Rashida Tlaib, have been critical of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris due to their positions on Palestine. Ocasio-Cortez has continued to support Biden and Harris enthusiastically in the 2024 presidential race.

In 2018, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign was largely funded by small individual contributions, with less than 1% coming from PACs. By 2020, her contributors included major tech companies like Amazon, Google, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft. Amazon was her fourth largest contributor, with $88,532 in donations. Many of these companies have significant business interests in Israel. Amazon has invested $7.2 billion in Israel through 2037, focusing on cloud services and job creation. Google, a top contributor, has also invested in Project Nimbus, a cloud services initiative with the Israeli government.

Apple has facilities in Herzliya and Haifa and is opening another site in Israel. It also provides matching donations for employee contributions, which include support for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Meta has collaborated with the Israeli Ministry of Justice to combat Holocaust denial. Microsoft has offices in Israel and provides cybersecurity services to the IDF, while Intel supports cloud services for the Israeli military.

While Ocasio-Cortez is not directly connected to the Israeli government, many of her top contributors have significant business interests in Israel. This raises questions about the influence of donations on political decisions and the extent to which elected officials prioritize their constituents’ interests over those of their donors.

Ocasio-Cortez’s evolving positions highlight the broader issue of how PACs and major donors can influence politicians, potentially shifting them away from their original values and towards the interests of their financial backers.