Democratic socialist Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed three Democrats running in key Senate races: John Fetterman, Mandela Barnes, and Tim Ryan.
AOC is weighing in for these three radical Democrats because they have worked for years to build political resumes that could be supported by one of the highest-profile Democratic socialists in Congress. Fetterman, Barnes, and Ryan support a laundry list of far-left progressive policy positions like Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and defunding the police, as well as aligning themselves with Bernie Sanders, AOC, and members of the Squad:
John Fetterman
- Paste Magazine: “Fetterman is AOC for rural people.”(Shane Ryan, “John Fetterman Represents the Progressive Movement Into Red and Purple America,” Paste, 2/9/21)
- Democratic activist Brett Goldman: “The perception is that [Fetterman] aligns with the Squad more than anything else.”(Matthew Kassel, “John Fetterman says he’ll ‘lean in’ on U.S.-Israel relationship as senator,” Jewish Insider, 4/11/22)
- Washington Times: “[Fetterman] is now running as an unabashed liberal, a behemoth messenger for the far-left vision of politics that has been most commonly associated with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s far-left ‘Squad.’” (Seth McLaughlin, “Lt. Gov. John Fetterman hulks over Pa.’s Dem race for Senate with no-nonsense style, far-left views,” Washington Times, 2/17/22)
- VIDEO: In April 2022, accused by fellow Democrats of being a “socialist,” Fetterman boasted, “Yeah, I’ve been called a socialist” (Twitter, 4/5/22)
- Delaware Valley Journal: “Fetterman is a self-described democratic socialist…” (Ezra Solway, “Senate Candidate John Fetterman Aims to Unify Rust Belt Voters Amid Scrutiny,” Delaware Valley Journal, 2/18/21)
- In 2018, Fetterman sought the endorsement of the Pittsburgh Democratic Socialists of America. (Holly Otterbein, Twitter, 4/6/22)
- In March 2022, a super PAC backing Conor Lamb tested negative messaging on Fetterman including that he is a “dangerous radical who proudly calls himself a socialist.” (Holly Otterbein, “Super PAC Signals Pennsylvania Primary Could Get Rough,” Politico, 3/21/22)
- In April 2016, Fetterman tweeted a quote calling him “the kind of leader who practices what Sanders preaches.”(Twitter, 4/24/16)
- In a January 2016 Daily Kospost, Fetterman endorsed Sanders, and said he considered it “high praise” when Doylestown Mayor Ron Strouse called him “the Bernie Sanders of Pennsylvania, but with better hair.” (John Fetterman, Op-Ed, “Why I’m Endorsing Bernie,” Daily Kos, 1/14/16)
- Fetterman in February 2016: “Single-payer is the ideal.”(Twitter, 2/19/16)
- In June 2019, Fetterman attended a rally for Just Harvest calling on state legislators to pass “a responsible 2019-2020 budget.”(“PA Budget Day of Action,” Just Harvest, 6/4/19)
- In June 2020, Just Harvest called on the Pittsburgh City Council to defund its police department.(“Pittsburgh City Council: Defund the police!” Just Harvest, 7/22/20)
Mandela Barnes
- Jewish Insider headline: “Will Mandela Barnes bring the Squad to the Senate?” (Matthew Kassel, “Will Mandela Barnes bring the Squad to the Senate?” Jewish Insider, 12/15/21)
- National Journal: “Mandela Barnes… is a Green New Deal-supporting, single-payer health care-backing, cash-bail-opposing candidate championed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren.” (Josh Kraushaar, “Democrats have their own Senate recruitment issues,” National Journal, 3/22/22)
- VIDEO: In 2019, Barnes said, “People like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Presley, and Johanna Hayes, they’re bringing big bold ideas to Capitol Hill and they’re changing the status quo.” (Mandela Barnes, Working Families Party Response To The State Of The Union, 2/6/19) MINUTE: 7:10 – 7:40
- In July 2018, Barnes referred to Ocasio-Cortez as “my president.” (Twitter, 7/5/18)
- Barnes on Ilhan Omar: “She’s brilliant. She cares about the environment. She’s not a afraid to boomerang. And she’s exactly who we need in Congress right now fighting for what’s right.” (Twitter, 8/14/19)
- In July 2019, Barnes voted for Rashida Tlaib to receive the 2019 Barbara Jordan Leadership Award. (Twitter, 7/29/19)
- In March 2018, Barnes spoke in support of the Green New Deal.(Twitter, 3/30/18)
- VIDEO: At a September 2021 Democracy For America event, Barnes stated he was “very much on the record” supporting Medicare For All and the Green New Deal.(“Malcolm Kenyatta and Mandela Barnes will attend a virtual meet and greet with Democracy for America on Zoom,” America Rising, 9/29/21) MIN 40:29
- In November 2020, Barnes advised Democrats to push for Medicare For All.(Tara Golshan, “Wisconsin’s Rising Democratic Star Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes Is Scared,” HuffPost, 11/23/20)
- In a 2012 candidate survey, Barnes claimed to support decreasing government spending on law enforcement and corrections.(Wisconsin State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test, VoteSmart, Accessed 10/5/21)
- In June 2020, Barnes tweeted in favor of reduced government spending on police.(Twitter, 6/10/20)
- VIDEO: In June 2020, Barnes said, “The minute you talk about reducing a police department’s budget, it’s like all hell breaks loose and everybody acts like you are signaling Armageddon.” (Marisa Wojcik, “Taking A Hard Look At What Is Being Funded At What Level,” PBS Wisconsin, 6/12/20) MINUTE: 0:12 – 0:59
- In August 2020, Barnes insinuated that “white supremacy and systemic racism” are “built in” to the institution of the police.(Facebook, 8/24/20)
- In November 2021, Barnes spoke at a Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) event, praising their “amazing work.” (Collin Anderson, “‘Amazing Work’: Wisconsin Dem Lauds Group That Aims to Defund Police, Abolish ICE,” Washington Free Beacon, 12/1/21)
- CPD is “the nation’s largest progressive organizing network” and launched a successful campaign in 2020 to defund police departments in cities across the country. (Collin Anderson, “‘Amazing Work’: Wisconsin Dem Lauds Group That Aims to Defund Police, Abolish ICE,” Washington Free Beacon, 12/1/21)
Tim Ryan
- Since Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez entered Congress, Ryan has voted with her 95% of the time (CQ Voter Analysis, Accessed 6/29/22)
- VIDEO: Ryan in April 2019: “I’ve been on the Medicare for All bills since 2007. I tell the new people in Congress I was on it before it was cool.” (Pod Save America, 4/30/19, Video Begins at 20:31)
- On February 27, 2019, Ryan cosponsored the Medicare for All Act of 2019. (R. 1384, Introduced 2/27/19)
- VIDEO: In April 2019, Ryan said he supports “a Green New Deal…”(Tim Ryan, Interview on ABC’s “This Week,” 4/14/19, Video Begins at 3:02)
- VIDEO: On May 14, 2019, Ryan said, “I embraced a Green New Deal.” (Tim Ryan, Interview on PBS’ “News Hour,” 5/14/19, Video Begins at 5:03)