Excerpt:
New York Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez whirled through Michigan last weekend, stopping for selfies, giving impassioned speeches and stumping for gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
Ocasio-Cortez is a rock star in progressive circles, maybe only behind Bernie Sanders, who also endorsed El-Sayed and will rally his supporters this Sunday. She brought big ideas and fresh perspectives to a Democratic congressional primary in New York, toppling incumbent and longtime Congressman Joe Crowley.
More progressive Democrats - like those who supported Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016 - are hoping Ocasio-Cortez’s win is emblematic of a progressive wave that sweeps the country. It’s a hopefulness that’s focused all eyes on Michigan, where national groups have pegged El-Sayed’s candidacy as a strong indication of where the future of the Democratic party lies.