Alexandria Osacia-Cortez and Class Representation

Alexandria Osacio-Cortez, the youngest congresswomen ever to be elected, has related to millennials and young adults on one major issue: housing. Cortez ran on a democratic socialist platform, advocating for higher wages, free healthcare, taxes on the rich and corporate regulation, and more protections for many marginalized communities. She made it clear that she understood what it was like to be working class, to fight to survive.

Once she was elected, her ties to the working class deepened when she explained that she would not be able to afford an apartment in DC until her first official paycheck is received, because of the high cost of living in DC. She expressed that finding housing is hard- and expensive, and while she and her partner saved and planned accordingly, money was still tight. This is one of the first times in modern American history where a politician has made it known how hard it is to afford to live, especially when you don't come from money and just finished running a lengthy- and expensive- campaign. She was able to talk about class in a very humble and honest way, which resonated with people all over the United States.

Recently, a Fox News anchor made fun of Cortez for coming forward with her financial struggle, and she responded with a well-written and poignant tweet. Media coverage from the right has been far from kind- criticizing her for her class position, even though most people in America are working class.