Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has ignited a firestorm among her progressive allies with recent endorsements that some see as a betrayal of her socialist roots.
The New York Post reported that over the past 10 days, Ocasio-Cortez endorsed two moderate Democrats for the midterms, first backing Mary Peltola in Alaska, described as supportive of gun rights and drilling, and then Rep. Julie Johnson in Texas’s redrawn 33rd district last week.
The endorsement of Johnson, running against former Rep. Colin Allred in the March 3 primary, came via a social media video on Jan. 23.
Johnson’s record, including a vote earlier this month for $3.3 billion in military aid to Israel, has drawn sharp criticism from members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Critics within the DSA have not held back, arguing that Ocasio-Cortez is veering toward the political center in a way that echoes the career trajectory of Nancy Pelosi. This shift, they claim, prioritizes party unity over ideological purity. The discontent has sparked heated debate about whether she still represents the movement that propelled her to prominence.
“I think it is obvious that AOC is a career opportunist,” one DSA member wrote on a party discussion board this week. Such harsh words cut deep, suggesting a calculated pivot for personal gain over principle. But is this fair, or merely the frustration of a faction unwilling to compromise?
Another DSA member didn’t mince words, pointing to Ocasio-Cortez’s support for military aid to Israel, her delayed criticism of President Biden’s viability as a candidate, and now her backing of Johnson.
“Given AOC’s mental gymnastics for aid to Israel, her backing Biden long after it was obvious he couldn’t run, and now her backing Julie Johnson, I see no reason why she isn’t on the same path as Pelosi,” the member stated. This comparison to Pelosi stings, implying a slow drift from firebrand to establishment figure.
“I definitely think we need to cut ties with her,” the same DSA member concluded. It’s a bold call, but it reflects a growing unease among progressives who see Johnson’s record—supporting aid to Israel and trading stock in an AI firm tied to controversial immigration policies under the previous administration—as antithetical to their values. The question looms: why would Ocasio-Cortez align with such a candidate?
Johnson’s vote for military aid has particularly riled DSA members, with some questioning if Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement violates the group’s anti-Zionist resolution.
Calls for expulsion have even surfaced, though the national DSA already revoked her endorsement in 2024 over a vote affirming Israel’s right to exist. Still, the local NYC chapter continues to stand by her.
Then there’s Johnson’s stock trades with a company linked to tracking unauthorized migrants during the Trump years, a detail that grates on progressive sensibilities. For a movement that champions humane immigration reform, this association feels like a slap in the face. It’s hard to reconcile with Ocasio-Cortez’s past rhetoric on border policies.
Some DSA voices speculate that Ocasio-Cortez is building bridges with the Democratic mainstream to position herself for bigger roles, perhaps eyeing a Senate seat or even the presidency. One attendee claimed her ambitions have led her to advisors pushing a rightward tilt. If true, this smells of pragmatism over passion—a bitter pill for her base to swallow.
Political scientist Lonna Atkeson from Florida State University sees it as leadership, albeit in a Pelosi-esque mold. She suggests Ocasio-Cortez is focusing on winnable candidates, prioritizing party over ideology. While that might make sense in a cutthroat political landscape, it risks alienating the very folks who gave her a megaphone.
Look at the Texas race itself—Johnson trails Allred by over 20 points in polls for the 33rd district. Allred, who held the neighboring 32nd district for six years, seems the safer bet. Is Ocasio-Cortez playing a long game, or just misreading the room?
For many on the right, this spat exposes the cracks in the progressive coalition, where ideological purity often clashes with electoral reality. Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsements might be a nod to practicality, but they also fuel accusations of hypocrisy. It’s a tightrope walk that could cost her credibility with her core supporters.
Yet, there’s a case to be made for strategic compromise in a system that punishes the inflexible. The GOP’s gerrymandering efforts in Texas, as Ocasio-Cortez noted in her video, are a real threat to Democratic seats. Backing a fighter like Johnson, flaws and all, might be less about selling out and more about survival.
