Ocasio-Cortez meets with local groups to mobilize inactive Democratic voters for midterms 

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke Monday at a private Syracuse gathering about her “Project Reactivation,” designed to reinvigorate inactive Democratic voters.  

According to data analysis done by the Ocasio-Cortez team, there are roughly 6,000 Democrats in Onondaga County who have not voted in two consecutive federal elections since 2020 or have failed to respond to a letter regarding a change of address.  

“One of the things that we want to do is specifically reach out to the New Yorkers and people across the state that have been ignored by our politics,” Ocasio-Cortez told the near-capacity crowd at Syracuse’s All Saints Church

Ocasio-Cortez, who represents New York’s 14th District, is a member of the Democratic Party, as well as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, having rejoined in August after a seven-year membership hiatus. 

Ocasio-Cortez first tested this program within her own district, which encompasses parts of the Bronx and Queens. The “practice run” as the congresswoman called it, had a 30% success rate.

In Onondaga County specifically, a large concentration of inactive voters live in the south and east sides of Syracuse, which are historically minority and impoverished communities. 

“Why would someone show up and consent to be governed, when that governing body looks like abandonment until the next election day?” Ocasio-Cortez said. “We do not want to live in that kind of political reality anymore, so what we are intentionally doing is organizing inactive voters across the state and giving them that message.”

Attendees and speakers at Monday’s event included members of the Working Families Party and the Syracuse chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America among others. 

While the appearance by the nationally recognized Ocasio-Cortez was a draw for some, inviting political organizers to Monday’s event brought people already familiar with the Syracuse community and its residents. 

“Trusted messengers matter,” said Jasmine Gripper, the New York State director of the Working Families Party. “Go talk to everyone you know and tell them about the power of their vote.” 

Gripper urged community leaders to “make it just a little bit easier for anyone to participate, and empower them to use their voice.”

“We [the Syracuse Democratic Socialists of America] have found that getting out and talking to people, canvassing, going door-to-door and finding out what is affecting the communities you are trying to help is how you keep people centered,” said J Moczara, the co-chair of the International Solidarity Committee at the Syracuse Democratic Socialists of America.

During the first weeks of the program, organizers will call inactive voters, followed by letters and emails. The final step involves going door-to-door and knocking. 

Meeting voters where they are, is something both Ocasio-Cortez and Maurice Brown, the candidate for New York’s 129th District, believe is an integral part of showing voters that they matter. 

“Syracuse is the most important city in the state, we have a lot of swing races here,” New York State Sen. Rachel May said. “Many of our local races have been shifting in recent years, so we have an opportunity to really send a message this year.” 

The New York State Board of Elections provides a searchable database for voters to check their registration status and polling place.