Council Member Fernando Cabrera (Photo: City Council)
Oct. 14, 2019 By Allie Griffin
A longtime city councilman and self-proclaimed “centrist” from the Bronx will challenge Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the democratic primary, according to reports.
Council Member Fernando Cabrera has told several outlets that he will run against Ocasio-Cortez for her Congressional District 14 seat, which includes parts of the east Bronx and Northwest Queens, including Jackson Heights, Sunnyside and parts of Astoria.
The council member told the New York Post he vows to run as the “pro-capitalist, pro-Amazon” alternative to the liberal Ocasio-Cortez, whom he denounced for being too socialist.
“AOC has brought nothing to the district — not one job. She cost the city 25,000 jobs by opposing the Amazon headquarters and $27 billion in revenues,” Cabrera told The Post.
The proposed Amazon site is in Long Island City outside the 14th Congressional district.
Cabrera told the New York Daily News that the Democratic freshman is out of touch with her district.
“We have a congresswoman that is literally steering us in the wrong direction,” Cabrera told the Daily News. “The district needs someone that’s going to be present, that’s going to attend to quality-of-life issues that are so pertinent to that district, someone that’s going to equally represent the Bronx and Queens together, who’s not going to run more jobs out of New York City.”
Following Cabrera’s comments yesterday, AOC’s campaign sent an email to supporters with the subject line “AOC’s Democratic Challenger.” Though the email didn’t mention Cabrera by name, it said “our opponent” would be “more than willing to raise huge dollars from wealthy donors, take special interest PAC money, and pander to corporate giants like Amazon.”
“Ever since we defeated Joe Crowley, corporate Democrats have been waiting for their chance to strike back,” the email noted. “Our opponent doesn’t play by the same rulebook we do.”
Cabrera, 55, was born in the Bronx to a Puerto Rican mother and a Dominican father and has represented City Council District 14 in the Bronx since 2010. He lives in Fordham, which is about a mile outside the 14th Congressional District.
He is also the senior pastor at a nondenominational church, New Life Church, in the Bronx and is known for his socially conservative views.
The pastor/councilman told the Post that he personally opposes gay marriage and abortion, but said they are the law of the land and won’t be big issues in the primary.
Cabrera repeatedly has repeatedly called socialism a failure and said it “destroys the middle class.”
While the council member has represented the Bronx for nearly a decade, he will have to win over Queens voters in a borough where he is less known.
When the Daily News asked what he’d do to win them over, Cabrera said, “I’ve done more for this city than she ever has. I’m known. People know the work that I have done. “
Other challengers to Ocasio-Cortez in 2020 include Republicans Scherie Murray and John Cummings.
Meanwhile, Badrun Khan from Queens plans to challenge Ocasio-Cortez in the primary.
Featured Events
31 Comments
Anonymous— Murray is a Republican and is the most viable candidate the GOP has so far IMO. Plenty of time for others to jump in on both sides.
You haven’t worked a day in your life
Gardens Watcher,Queens should put up a viable Republican, not a right wing nut job. The Democratic Party is done, they might as well raise the red flags. Common sense is gone.
She has a ton of support and growing in the district. At this point unless there is a significant change, it’s highly unlikely he will win. I only see her popularity growing in the near future.
And FYI, yes the district spans two boroughs, and within it is a diversity of neighborhoods on both sides of the river.
Would love to see you run against AOC because she is out of touch with her socalist policies. Please get her out of the mirror. She loves being on the spotlight only.
Cabrera doesn’t even live in the 14th District. And he’s from the Bronx. Queens should put up a viable candidate in the Dem primary.
YOU HAVE MY VOTE! ANYONE BUT THE VERY ARROGANT EGO OF AOC!
I am ready to vote for this man.
Say NO to socialism.
Say NO to progressive stupidity.
Question is:
Who’s going to get off their a**ses, and go out and vote?
18-25 year olds
Women, Men
Employed residents of the Bronx and Queens
Unemployed new voters
I’d say the same people have to, who voted in AOC.
But, that’s not completely accurate. I have no analytics.
Marc Torres You’re a George Carlin? I love George Carlin. Fernando Cabrera has a lot of work to do. If he wants to dish school leaders. If he wants to seek office. I hope he’s not reading this, because Ocasio-Cortez kinda made his life very difficult. I would watch a debate. Might listen to the clash of civilization(s).
He is a Democrat, not a Republican and not a Democratic Socialist like AOC.
Why are the Bronx and Queens lumped together in one district? Because they are both part of NYC? Does not make sense. Each area is different with its own issues and concerns. AOC is from the Bronx, keep her out of Queens, where she’s done enough damage. The “Boogie Down” Bronx can have her.
Her mom is living in Florida; she left New York. Facts do not matter to the people who hate Trump
The mother of Absolutely Out of Control lives in Florida in a condo; she could not longer afford New York thanks to her daughter.
We don’t need another righteous man with a moustache in Washington.
Aoc mom alive and living in Florida
Nice try mac
So this guy is a Republican
She got an expensive haircut!
Wow how cool
A challenger against the fake socialist !
Look forward to volunteering for Cabrera
25,000 jobs that wouldn’t go to any current residents.
George Carlin once said the country is being dumbed down by our school system, passing students by lowering the passing grades. Today, you are seeing the results. The constituency of AOC. I knew the bush republicans were bad, but AOC and her supporters are OFF THE RICHTER SCALE RETARDED. Which is why of course they need low IQ illegal immigrants.
Another corrupt centrist who only cares about the interests of the billionaire class.
I will support and donate AOC
We shall see who shows up to vote!
And I am sure he looks forward to handily defeating the former bartender.
AOC took a second job to help her mother after her father died. I guess terminal cancer is funny to Trump lovers?
I hope he beats AOC ( I dont mean physically hahahe ) Getting a $300 haircut and all that jazz she doesnt deserve to sit on the throne except the one in ladies room . LOL
Don’t think he cost his district 25.000 jobs at the least.
We will see the Queens Power Brokers (Sweeney, Blotz and Reich) and their Democratic Club put their muscle,money and support behind this guy against AOC.
My vote goes to him. Enough with craziness from either left or right. We need more of centrists and less of polarizers.
Looking forward to working against him.