Wall Street banker Marty Dolan, 66, launches primary bid to dethrone AOC and restore ‘sanity’ amid New York’s immigration crisis
- Dolan announced his bid with the words ‘enough is enough’
- He criticized the progressive wing of the Democratic party, saying it carries too much weight
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez is seeking a fourth term in Congress
- New York will hold its primaries on June 25
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has a challenger in the Democratic primary for New York’s 14th Congressional District seat.
Wall Street veteran Marty Dolan launched a long-running effort to oust the progressive lawmaker who represents a district that includes parts of Queens and the Bronx in New York City.
Dolan has called on the Democratic party to “recenter” itself, saying the influence of “radicals” on the party is too great.
“New Yorkers have seen it all, including scams like the Radicals offer. But we know better that New Yorkers want NYC to be the best city in the best country in the world,” he said on his website.
After launching his bid, the former banker appeared on Fox News, where he held up a copy of the New York Post with the headline “Hell Ride.”
He said New Yorkers are experiencing a complete lack of trust on the streets and “enough is enough” and there is a lot of dissatisfaction in the neighborhood.
Ex-banker Marty Dolan launched preliminary primary bid for Rep. Ocasio-Cortez in New York’s 14th District
Representative Ocasio-Cortez represents a New York district that includes parts of Queens and the Bronx
Dolan blasted the 34-year-old congressman over the Green New Deal, opposition to Amazon building a second headquarters in Queens and New York’s migrant crisis. She said she “puts headlines first and voters second.”
Dolan told Fox News that he is a moderate Democrat and said the left wing of the Democratic party is too far to the left. He said his main focus will be the quality of life for New Yorkers, because the feel of the city has gotten “too out of control.”
The 14th District is a safe blue district. Ocasio-Cortez won re-election in 2022 with overwhelming support.
The congresswoman first made national headlines in 2018 after unseating a longtime incumbent in the Democratic primary and, at age 29, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
She was re-elected in 2020 and 2022, most recently with 70 percent of the vote in the most recent midterm elections.
The proud progressive Democrat is a member of the “Squad” and has been a fierce advocate for the Green New Deal, Medicare-for-all and other liberal priorities.
But she has also been known to toe the party line and vote with Democrats on compromises reached with more moderate members of the caucus.
She has also expressed her support for President Biden’s re-election, praising his legislative achievements since taking office.
Her biggest challenge comes as New York City faces a cost-of-living crisis and an influx of migrants putting a burden on the city’s resources.
And while overall crime in the city has remained high in 2023 compared to the previous year, crimes and car thefts have remained high.
New York will hold its primaries on June 25.