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

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 14th 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.

More: ‘Me voting in 2018’ is the meme we can all relate to

More: 6 of the most important things you need to know about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

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