Americans Give Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a Tough Reality Check in New Poll
When self-proclaimed socialist and Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez first emerged on the political scene as a candidate in 2018, she was heralded by the left and the media — but I repeat myself — as the sort of breath of fresh air the Democratic Party needed moving forward.
That initial take seemed to be accepted by many Americans, as Ocasio-Cortez is rather attractive with a pleasant disposition and an energetic earnestness to fix what ails this country that, on the surface, is difficult to resist.
However, now that the freshman congresswoman has been in office for a couple of months — and following countless instances of spouting divisive and socialistic nonsense on TV and social media, not to mention via proposed legislation and committee hearings — the general view of the American people has shifted quite dramatically with regard to her … and not in a positive manner.
Gallup just released the results of a poll conducted from mid- to late-February in which Ocasio-Cortez’s name recognition and favorability were measured, and while her name is most certainly recognized by far more Americans than in a previous poll prior to the 2018 election, so too has her unfavorability rating climbed significantly over that same period.
Through February, Ocasio-Cortez was viewed favorably by 31 percent of Americans and unfavorably by 41 percent, for a net favorability rating of -10 percent. At the same time, only 29 percent of Americans had never heard of or had no real opinion of the outspoken and media-adored congresswoman.
Compare those numbers to the poll results obtained by Gallup in September 2018, just after Ocasio-Cortez had shocked the political world by besting a 10-term incumbent and member of the Democratic House leadership, Rep. Joe Crowley in the New York state primary election.
In September, Ocasio-Cortez was viewed favorably by 24 percent of Americans and unfavorably by 26 percent, for a net favorability rating of -2 percent. At that time, a full 50 percent of Americans had never heard of her or had no opinion of the young candidate.
As those disparate poll results make clear, while some 21 percent more Americans have become aware of or formed an opinion of Ocasio-Cortez, that view hasn’t been good, as her favorable views have only risen 7 percent while her unfavorable views have climbed by 15 percent, giving her a net unfavorable rating of -8 percent over the duration.
Breaking down those poll results along demographic lines reveals that aside from the Democratic Party base generally, the bulk of Ocasio-Cortez’s support comes from the specific demographic groups she represents — namely, young, non-white women Democrats.
Indeed, among Democrats her net favorability has increased from 33 to 41 percent. Meanwhile, she has slipped slightly among independents by 7 points, from +2 to -5 percent, and dropped dramatically among Republicans by 21 points, from -47 to -68 percent.
Ocasio-Cortez’s net favorability among men dropped by 11 points, from -13 to -24 percent, and fell just a bit among women by 3 points, from +7 to +4 percent.
Among white Americans, the congresswoman’s net favorability has slipped by 15 points, from -9 to -24. She gained support among non-white Americans — the only demographic segment in which she gained ground — of 9 points, up from +11 to +20 percent.
Even among her own age group, 18-34-year-old voters, Ocasio-Cortez lost 7 points, down from +12. Meanwhile, her net favorability among 35-54-year-olds dropped 8 points, -1 to -9 percent, and she is thoroughly rejected by voters over the age of 55, falling 10 points from -12 to -22 percent.
The more that American voters come to know and understand Ocasio-Cortez and her worldview, the more they dislike her and her plans for our nation’s future.
Of course, these particular numbers and the congresswoman’s overall negative net favorability rating may have little to no bearing on her constituents in New York City or chance at being re-elected in 2020, but it could hamstring her rather obvious efforts at establishing herself as a rising leader and “the boss” of the party.
It remains to be seen if Ocasio-Cortez will pay any attention to these poll results — an unlikely proposition — and temper her moronic “hot takes” on social media or refrain from espousing unpopular socialistic ideals, or if she will continue to plow ahead without a care for what other people — even those within her demographic groups — think about her.
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