By Staff Writer Sawyer Pollitt.

The recent midterm elections shook up the political landscape of America, flipping the House of Representatives from Republican to Democrat and introducing the country to a new generation of freshman representatives.

While every new representative is significant in their own way, few have been more outspoken or more in the public eye than the representative for New York’s 14th Congressional district, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Although the youngest female representative to ever serve as a member of Congress, Ocasio-Cortez has more than just her age thrusting her into the spotlight.

Ocasio-Cortez stands as one of the most progressive members of Congress. She stands firm on positions that would seem extremely liberal to many traditional politicians.

She calls for a 70% marginal tax on those taking home more than 10 million dollars every year, effective pathways to citizenship in place of strict border controls, and vocal support for LGBT rights and for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Ocasio-Cortez’s stance on these issues is a breath of fresh air in a political world that is oversaturated with talk of fake news and treason.

Many Americans, myself included, find her to be both genuine and dare I say, human – two traits that are often found missing in politicians from both sides of the aisle.

She is able to accomplish this feat of humanity partly through her extensive social-media following.
As the youngest congresswoman she has a unique understanding of the intricacies of the internet that her older colleagues lack.

Through this skill she is able to amass an audience that few in government today can rival.

In the age of communication these talents are invaluable for promoting one’s message and reaching those who may normally be oblivious to the world of politics.

Her down-to-Earth demeanor help her to explain complex political issues to the masses.
Ocasio-Cortez’s outspoken nature and lack of fear of pushback against her views give her an air of confidence and dedication that rings true for many young voters.

Aside from her personality and charisma, she is already making strides on the floor of the house.

As seen from the January 23 vote to temporarily reopen the government, Ocasio-Cortez voted against the proposed budget, going against her party.
This may have come as a shock to many who expect Democrats to prioritize ending the shutdown.
However, in an even more shocking move, by breaking party lines at risk of prolonging the shutdown, Ocasio-Cortez is actually serving the interests of her constituents who vocally opposed the ICE funding that was present in the budget.
The bold move of doing her job already sets Ocasio-Cortez apart from her contemporaries.

Ignoring the massive influence of lobbyists and even the will of her party haven’t seemed to hurt her in the slightest.

Her powerful beginnings have already led to her holding positions on both the House Committee on Oversight and Reform as well as the House Committee on Financial Services.

Ocasio-Cortez has found her way into the hearts and minds of many young Americans and has firmly established herself as a powerhouse in American politics that could last for years to come.

It seems that so far, she hasn’t been playing “the game” but rejecting it entirely in favor of maintaining her own convictions and staying true to the platform that got her elected.
Regardless of whether she is loved or hated, it is hard to argue the huge impact that she has had in her extremely short time as an elected official.
For better or for worse it seems that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is here to stay, and she is going to keep working toward her goals.