Leftist Democrats take big loss as AOC-backed candidate loses recount to challenger

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backed Jessica Cisneros, a Texas congressional candidate, but she lost in a recount for her party’s nomination.

After a close runoff election, Cisneros requested a recount. Cisneros faced incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas. Following the recounts, it was clear that Cuellar had not only won but also received more votes than was initially reported.

Cuellar won by 289 votes, according to the recount committee for the Texas Democratic Party.

“As I said on election night, ‘the margin will hold’ — and it has not only held but grown,” Cuellar said. He continued to say that he appreciates “election workers who sacrificed their time to once again confirm the voices of every voter across the 28th district were heard.”

“To those who did not vote for me, as your Congressman I will continue to work diligently for you in Washington. While we may differ on certain positions, we share a common ground on many issues to improve our communities and strengthen families,” Cuellar said.

Cisneros however, wasn’t as appreciative. She blamed  “a corrupt political machine, Republican-funded Super PACs, the Koch brothers, private prisons, Big Oil, the Chamber of Commerce, dark money groups, Big Pharma, and nearly the entire Democratic Party establishment in Washington” for opposing her.

She vowed to assist her party by continuing to organize to elect more left-leaning Democrats in Texas.

“We’re going to keep fighting to create a more progressive and accountable Democratic Party this year and work to turn Texas blue in November,” Cisneros said.

“We’re grateful to Jessica Cisneros for the positive campaign she ran — shining a light on the issues that are really impacting South Texas,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said and added, “We all know she will continue to fight for South Texans as we rally together behind our nominee, Henry Cuellar.”

Cuellar won the Democratic nomination by 177 votes over Cisneros in the primary runoff election on May 24 and confidently predicted the margin would remain. However, Cisneros refused to admit that she lost the race.

One of the last Democrats in the House who supports abortion, Cuellar has criticized the Biden administration’s mishandling of the southern border problem and growing inflation. She has vowed to battle to defend the jobs in the oil and gas industry and reduce taxes and healthcare costs.

On the other hand, Cisneros ran for office on a campaign of progressive politics.

The race between Cuellar and Cisneros received greater attention because a leaked Supreme Court decision suggested Roe v. Wade would be overturned. In that case, state legislatures would gain control over abortion access instead of having the abortion process protected by the judiciary.