Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) and Michelle Caruso-Cabrera
April 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin
A former CNBC anchor and Sunnyside resident Michelle Caruso-Cabrera has raised approximately $1 million in campaign funds to take on liberal congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the NY-14 seat.
Caruso-Cabrera will report $800,000 for the first quarter ending March 31 — after expenses — tomorrow, according to her campaign office. The former journalist hopes to beat Ocasio-Cortez in a crowded June 23 Democratic primary and is running as a moderate.
She said that that her large campaign chest reflects the level of support she has received from the public.
“Before Coronavirus people were stopping me on the street showing their excitement. And from the beginning the countless handwritten letters from near and far from across the country have been so moving,” Caruso-Cabrera said. “The national and local messages are clear: I will unite. AOC’s reign of division will end.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign said it would be releasing her first quarter fundraising numbers tomorrow, on the filing deadline. She had $2.9 million on hand at the end of 2019, according to a spokesperson.
The congresswoman stopped raising campaign funds after the outbreak of COVID-19 and focused on bringing in money to local organizations. She has helped raise nearly $200,000 for community groups as of Friday, a campaign spokesperson said.
However, Caruso-Cabrera has been critical of Ocasio-Cortez, alleging that she has not being responsive to her constituents since the outbreak began. She accused Ocasio-Cortez of living large in her D.C. apartment for 10 days earlier this month, while Queens and Bronx residents dealt with the crisis.
Why was @AOC living in luxury for more than a week while people in the Bronx & Queens are dying and losing their jobs? Congress hasn’t been in session for a week – why was she there? To shop at Whole Foods in her lobby while we wait in lines? https://t.co/zaIIuynNEY
— Michelle Caruso-Cabrera (@MCaruso_Cabrera) April 3, 2020
“For weeks families have been worried about where they are going to get their next paycheck,” Caruso-Cabrera said in a statement on April 4. “AOC hasn’t been here to see their desperation and their struggle to survive. Why is she in DC when Congress isn’t in session?”
Ocasio-Cortez has been back and forth between the district and DC. On Friday, she was delivering meals to residents of LeFrak City, which was posted to Instagram.
She has also hosted several virtual town halls addressing COVID-19. Her virtual meeting have addressed topics such as how people can get unemployment insurance and what loan/grant packages are available to small businesses. She also spoke about the stimulus package at a virtual meeting held by Queens Community Board 2.
Nevertheless, Caruso-Cabrera said New Yorkers want a more moderate candidate that Ocasio-Cortez.
“The tide in this country has turned dramatically toward moderates like Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Vice President Joe Biden who know how to lead, and against Democratic Socialists like AOC and Bernie Sanders who only understand extremist politics,” Caruso-Cabrera said in a release.
“Here in NY-14, I am the only candidate emphasizing cooperation, conciliation, getting things done and getting results for the Bronx and Queens at this time of great uncertainty.”
Caruso-Cabrera is one of at least six candidates running in the Democratic primary.
A map showing Congressional District 14, which includes portions Astoria, College Point, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside.
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17 Comments
Yea there are housing homeless people in hotels all over her district.
I hope they will hold a debate, and that SSP host it.
MCC is the only viable Democratic challenger to AOC. Good luck!
Absentee voting is now easier and is safer for me. No lines to wait in.
Per the state’s elections website (elections.ny.gov):
“**Pursuant to Executive Order 202.15 issued April 9, 2020, voters may request and vote via an absentee ballot for any election held on or before June 23, 2020 due to the potential to contract the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). To request an absentee ballot, voters may fill out an absentee ballot application and check “temporary illness or physical disability” as the reason they are requesting an absentee ballot.”
A game show host is our president, and he’s going a great job (minus the pandemic response, costing thousands of lives).
So a news anchor can be a congresswoman.
Run MCC Run. You got my vote!
This should extend AOC’s district lines to all of ASTORIA! Not just the ditmars area. Its not fair. Astoria supports AOC overwhelmingly! Those that do not are usually older, have money, sexists and/or xenophobes. Vote for AOC Astoria!! Show them that we stand for diversity and equality!
Cali Girl Go Home! Just cause you moved here does not give you the right to speak for Real born here Astoria Families! Keep your OPINIONS to yourself! Your socialism destroyed the Globe and you’re too Lazy to get a real job! Cut the apron string and Grow up! Now we have to social distance and wear masks cause your introvert mense! But coincidentally you AOC and Bernie just a day ago had rally and had people squished together without masks! Even Bernie was right next to AOC. And neither of them had a mask on for press photo op. Right in Corona ignoring the Corona V that fellows dems Cuomo & DeBlasio mandate as punishable by law if not social ?? distancing &/ or wearing a mask! And haven’t you Psycho Socialists been saying that the elderly can get it and die from it? You REALLY love Bernie doncha!??
Yeah! AOC 4 Astoria! Killing one person at time while dismissing her own “party’s” law! ??????
Hey Monica, I’m an older person from the Ditmars area. I am not a xenophobe. I bet you are from another state, and don’t realize that Astoria has always been called The Little U.N. because of all the different ethnicities. People of all backgrounds have been living side by side in my 60 years. Just because I own a house, doesn’t mean I” have money.” AOC is clueless, she only won because it was a mid-term election, not many people turned out at the polls. She knows she is going to loose, that’s why she is already talking about challenging Chuck Schumer for the Senate in 2024.
They are housing homeless people from all over the city in AOC’s district to vote for her. AOC will definitely win. Those of you that do not believe that the city wants people like AOC to remain in office can be one of the first in line to take the subway and go back to work. Yea, the subways are and will be really safe to ride when business start opening up.
Good point. Why isn’t AOC back home in the Bronx while congress is not in session… oh yeah, that’s right, she’s actually from Westchester and she’s busy snap-chatting from he cozy DC apartment, while her constituents die. MCC will be a refreshing competent advocate for the area, can’t wait!
BTW, AOC doesn’t need to raise money because her former campaign manager has “alleged campaign finance violations” with the money from Justice Democrats and Bernie’s 2016 run. What a corrupt money shell game.
This is good news. I would like to see Michelle Caruso-Cabrera win.
Run ACC Run, you got my vote!
AOC is awesome.
Yeah! Awesomely Stupid! Hey Cali go vote in your own state! NYers don’t say awesome dude! Go catch a ?riptide and go hang 10 back! ?? NYC ? has too much class for your dumbass self!
Voting for AOC and contributing more to her campaign.
Have fun going broke!???
WIN