Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro challenged Democratic House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a debate on Wednesday and offered $10,000 for her campaign if she accepted the challenge.
In a segment on “The Ben Shapiro Show,” he noted that Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez has called Ocasio-Cortez “the future of the party.”
“Miss Ocasio-Cortez, I’m really excited that you’ve been elevated to that position and I would love to have a real conversation with you about the issues,” Shapiro said.
“You’ve noted that you think Republicans are afraid to debate you or talk to you or discuss the issues with you. Not only am I eager to discuss the issues with you, I’m willing to offer $10,000 to your campaign today for you to come on our Sunday special,” he continued.
Ocasio-Cortez, 28, a former staffer on Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) 2016 presidential campaign, shocked the political world by upsetting 10-term Democratic Rep. Joseph Crowley in the primary for New York’s 14th Congressional District.
Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist, ran on a platform that includes “Medicare for all” and tuition-free public college education.
Shapiro’s offer came after Ocasio-Cortez appeared for an interview on “Pod Save America,” a podcast hosted by former Obama administration staffers.
Shapiro, who has become a leading voice for conservative millennials, offered Ocasio-Cortez one hour for a debate to discuss “all the topics under the sun” in an effort to probe “her belief system.”
“I would love to debate her because I have one question for her,” Shapiro continued later. “Name an industry you would not nationalize; which ones should the government not run and why? Alright, can she name any of them?”
Shapiro also offered to donate the money to charity instead of the campaign.
“So let’s make this happen! Let’s make America a more civil and interesting place. Let’s do this thing,” he concluded.
Ocasio-Cortez has not responded to Shapiro’s offer as of Thursday morning.