Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Artist: Devin Howard
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Born: October 13, 1989
Occupation: Politician
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - commonly known as AOC - drew national recognition when she won the Democratic Party’s primary election for New York's 14th congressional district, defeating the ten-term incumbent Congressman, Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley, in what was widely seen as the biggest upset victory in the 2018 midterm election primaries. She beat Republican opponent Anthony Pappas in the general election, and at age 29, became the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress, doing so while taking only independent donations and zero PAC money.
I chose AOC because she represents the political voice of the Millennial generation, my generation. Pushing for Medicare For All, a federal jobs guarantee, a proposed Green New Deal, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, free public college and trade school, and a 70% marginal tax rate for incomes above $10 million. While I may not agree with all these proposals or how they should be implemented, I agree they are in areas that have been severely lacking in focus by Congresses in the past.
I based my portrait of Ocasio-Cortez on her twitter profile picture and set her in front of a light green background to represent the Green New Deal legislation she introduced in Congress. Because climate change is here and must be solved in order for the world as we know it to survive.
- Devin Howard