Ocasio-Cortez says candidate she backed in Texas Democratic primary ‘came closer than anyone imagined’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) hailed Jessica Cisneros after Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) fended off her primary challenge from the left Tuesday evening.

“I am so incredibly proud of Jessica Cisneros. At 26 years old, she ran for office for the first time to offer TX28 new leadership that fights for workers, gender rights,& a climate agenda,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Wednesday. “She stood up to Koch brother money & incumbency, & she came closer than anyone imagined.”

I am so incredibly proud of Jessica Cisneros.

At 26 years old, she ran for office for the first time to offer TX28 new leadership that fights for workers, gender rights,& a climate agenda.

She stood up to Koch brother money & incumbency, & she came closer than anyone imagined. https://t.co/3NiBVMfDrf

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 4, 2020

Cuellar, a seven-term member of the conservative Blue Dog coalition, defeated Cisneros by about 3.5 points. Cisneros received endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), whereas House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) backed Cuellar, who also benefited from a major cash advantage.

Ocasio-Cortez also congratulated Georgette Gomez, who advanced to the November ballot for California’s 53^rd district under the state’s “jungle primary” system. Gomez will face fellow Democrat and former Hillary Clinton aide Sara Jacobs to succeed retiring Rep. Susan Davis (D).

“@SDGeorgette is a progressive history-maker who fought Trump’s wall right in San Diego, and would be the first Queer Latina in Congress,” Ocasio-Cortez added.

Also incredibly proud of Georgette Gomez, who cleared the way in #CA53 and is now on the ballot for November.@SDGeorgette is a progressive history-maker who fought Trump’s wall right in San Diego, and would be the first Queer Latina in Congress. ️‍ https://t.co/AlkMZWT7JY

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 4, 2020