AOC fundraising soars as the New York rep and Bernie Sanders barnstorm U.S. against Trump

AOC fundraising soars as the New York rep and Bernie Sanders barnstorm U.S. against Trump


Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a stop on the ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at Grand Park on April 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Mario Tama | Getty Images

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez raised $9.6 million during the first quarter of 2025, the strongest ever quarter for the New York Democrat, a campaign finance filing showed Tuesday.

AOC’s huge money haul — more than five times her tally in the first quarter of 2024 — comes as she and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., draw big crowds at “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies around the U.S.

The two progressives at those events criticize President Donald Trump’s policies and highlight the role that billionaires, including DOGE chief Elon Musk, have in the Trump administration. Turnout at the rallies has been strong even in red states.

Ocasio-Cortez is also being touted as a possible primary opponent against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2028.

Progressives are angry at her fellow New York Democrat for, among other things, voting for a Republican-sponsored resolution to avoid a government shutdown in March. There are widespread calls for new leadership in the Democratic Party due to its loss of the White House and Senate in the 2024 elections.

“I cannot convey enough how grateful I am to the millions of people supporting us with your time, resources, & energy,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Tuesday.

“Your support has allowed us to rally people together at record scale to organize their communities,” said the lawmaker, whose district spans parts of the Bronx and Queens in New York City.

A large percentage of donations were in small amounts, Federal Election Commission records show. AOC said that the average donation was just $21.

A solid majority of donations in the first quarter — 64% — were from first-time donors, her campaign manager Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben said in a tweet.

“These resources support a year-round organizing presence in NY-14 [AOC’s district] and host rallies across the country in places like Arizona, Colorado, and Utah,” said Hidalgo-Wohlleben.

“It also means we are not beholden to any lobbyist, corporation, or billionaire.”



Source

Germany’s new chancellor to meet Trump in Washington on Thursday
Politics

Germany’s new chancellor to meet Trump in Washington on Thursday

German conservative candidate for chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz attends a press conference following the general election in Berlin, Germany, February 24, 2025.  Fabrizio Bensch | Reuters Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington to meet on Thursday with U.S. President Donald Trump, a German government spokesman said […]

Read More
EU ‘prepared to impose countermeasures’ after Trump doubles steel tariffs to 50%
Politics

EU ‘prepared to impose countermeasures’ after Trump doubles steel tariffs to 50%

President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at the US Steel-Irvin Works on May 30, 2025 in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen | Getty Images The European Union on Saturday criticized President Donald Trump’s move to double tariffs on steel imports, warning that it “undermines” efforts to reach a “negotiated solution” in the […]

Read More
Damning IAEA report spells out past secret nuclear activities in Iran
Politics

Damning IAEA report spells out past secret nuclear activities in Iran

A picture taken on November 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag in Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start works on a second reactor at the facility. ATTA KENARE | AFP via Getty Images Iran carried out secret nuclear activities with material not declared to the U.N. nuclear watchdog at three […]

Read More