Ocasio-Cortez Nominates Sanders, Doesn’t Mention Biden in DNC Speech

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks by video feed during the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention 2020 on Aug. 18, 2020. Democratic National Convention/Pool via Reuters

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) nominated Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and did not mention Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as she delivered a 1-minute speech during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Tuesday evening.

The first-term congresswoman spoke to nominate Sanders before Biden was confirmed as the party’s official candidate.

“I want to thank everyone working towards a better, more just future for our country and our world,” Ocasio-Cortez said, speaking after the Vermont senator was formally nominated by Bob King, a labor activist and lawyer.

Her movement is “striving to recognize and repair the wounds of racial injustice, colonization, misogyny, and homophobia,” Ocasio-Cortez asserted, adding that it “realizes the unsustainable brutality of an economy that rewards explosive inequalities of wealth for the few at the expense of long term stability for the many.”

Ocasio-Cortez faced criticism on social media about why her speech didn’t make mention of Biden and instead focused on Sanders. She explained that it was part of the DNC’s procedure.

“If you were confused, no worries! Convention rules require roll call & nominations for every candidate that passes the delegate threshold. I was asked to 2nd the nom for Sen. Sanders for roll call. I extend my deepest congratulations to @JoeBiden - let’s go win in November,” she wrote.

Before that, the congresswoman’s supporters were upset that she was given a 60-second speaking time slot after some Republican critics of President Donald Trump such as Ohio Gov. John Kasich were allowed to speak.

“People on the extreme, whether they’re on the left or on the right, they get outsized publicity that tends to define their party,” Kasich told BuzzFeed News about her comments. “You know, I listen to people all the time make these statements, and because AOC gets outsized publicity doesn’t mean she represents the Democratic Party. She’s just a part, just some member of it.”

Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden gives a thank you speech with supporters during the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 18, 2020. Handout/DNCC via Getty Images

Sanders was Biden’s final opponent in the Democratic primary race. He suspended his bid for the nation’s highest office and backed Biden in April.

The nomination of Sanders was seen mainly as symbolic because Biden already secured his place as the presumptive nominee several months ago after reaching 1,991 required delegates to lead the Democratic party.

Sanders, meanwhile, has asked his supporters to support Biden despite their ideological differences. On Monday, Sanders spoke during the DNC and assailed President Trump.

“The future of our democracy is at stake,” Sanders said. “The price of failure is just too great to imagine.”