Midterm elections: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez becomes the youngest woman ever elected to Congress - and people are ecstatic

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has just made history by becoming the youngest woman elected to the US House of Representatives - and people are thrilled.

The 29-year-old political newcomer shot to fame earlier this year when she unexpectedly defeated ten-term representative Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary for New York’s 14^th district.

It was one of the biggest upheavals in the city’s political history.

When it came to the midterm elections, Ocasio-Cortez comfortably beat her long shot Republican opponent Anthony Pappas.

Born to Puerto Rican mum and a dad from the Bronx, Ocasio-Cortez worked as a bartender just months before winning her primary and had never previously held political office.

She ran on a liberal platform that pushed for Medicare for all, abolishing ICE and advocating for a ban on high assault weapons in light of the string of fatal school shootings in the country.

But Ocasio-Cortez is a renowned socialist and had previously worked as an organiser for Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign.

Having turned 29 this month, Ocasio-Cortez inches out the previous holder of the title for the youngest female member of Congress - Republican Elise Stefanik, who was elected at 30.

She is also one of a historic number of women of colour who have been elected to Congress in the 2018 midterm elections, including the first Muslim woman Ilhan Omar in Minnesota.

History is being made.

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