Some House Dems may want to primary Ocasio-Cortez, 'make her a one-term congressperson'

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rose to political fame by upsetting an established Democrat in the election primary. Less than one month into her first term as a congresswoman, some Democrats in the House may be planning to get her out the same way she came in, according to The Hill.

A Democratic lawmaker who requested anonymity told The Hill that he has been working to convince the New York delegation to find someone to beat Ocasio-Cortez in 2020.

"What I have recommended to the New York delegation is that you find her a primary opponent and make her a one-term congressperson," the Democrat told The Hill. "You've got numerous council people and state legislators who've been waiting 20 years for that seat. I'm sure they can find numerous people who want that seat in that district."

Why would Dems want her out?

First of all, her surprising victory over former Rep. Joe Crowley, who was the House Democratic Caucus chairman, ruffled some feathers. Crowley was seen as a future party leader, possibly even eventually a House Speaker candidate.

Also, Ocasio-Cortez has been aligned with a group called Justice Democrats, which seeks to support primary challengers for establishment Democrats. At one point, Politico reported that Ocasio-Cortez and the group were targeting fellow New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who is now the caucus chairman.

Ocasio-Cortez denied the report, and Jeffries claims that there is no bad blood between he and Ocasio-Cortez at this point, but the idea upset members of the Black Caucus.

"She's pissing off a lot of people and has probably made a lot of enemies," a New York political insider told The Hill.

What does Ocasio-Cortez think of this?

Ocasio-Cortez's spokesman Corbin Trent said the congresswoman has no issues if someone challenges her in a primary.

"We believe in primaries as an idea," Trent said. "We're not upset by the idea of being primaried. We are not going to go out there being anti-primary — they are good for the party."