AOC says GOP dislikes Dems 'who actually stand up' for Americans after Virginia vote

WASHINGTON, DC: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did not hold back as she responded to Republicans following the outcome of Virginia’s special election, using the moment to call out what she described as years of partisan tactics.

The New York Democrat reacted on Wednesday, April 22, just a day after Virginia voters backed a Democrat-supported redistricting plan that could significantly shift the balance of power in the state’s congressional delegation.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says Republicans have 'fought for partisan gerrymanders across the US'

Ocasio-Cortez directly addressed criticism coming from the Republican Party, pointing to what she described as a decade-long refusal to address partisan gerrymandering.

“Wah wah wah,” she said, dismissing GOP complaints.

“We have asked Republicans for 10 years to ban partisan gerrymandering. And for 10 years, Republicans have said no,” she added. “Republicans have fought for partisan gerrymanders across the United States of America, and these are the rules that they have set.”

She went on to argue that similar strategies had already been used in states like North Carolina and Texas, where she said district lines were drawn in ways that benefited Republicans.

“And so if the Republican Party wanted to start this, they did this in North Carolina. They drew out three Democratic members of Congress in North Carolina. They did it in Texas,” the congresswoman remarked.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says Democrats are no longer backing down from political fights

Beyond the immediate election, Ocasio-Cortez framed the moment as part of a broader shift within the Democratic Party.

“What they’re just mad at is that they have been accustomed to a Democratic Party that rolls over, doesn’t fight, and takes everything sitting down,” she said.

“And what they’re mad at right now is that we are here in a new day. And we have been asking the Democratic Party to stand up and fight, and now they did — and now the Republican Party doesn’t like the fact that they are fighting against someone who actually will stand up for the American people,” Ocasio-Cortez stressed. 

She added that Democrats are ready to revisit legislation banning partisan gerrymandering if Republicans are willing to engage.

“So if Republicans decide that they would like to revisit a ban on partisan gerrymandering, I welcome them. We have the bill right here to end this all today,” she stressed.

Trump claims Virginia election was ‘rigged’

Meanwhile, Donald Trump reacted strongly to the same election outcome, claiming without evidence that the results were manipulated.

“A rigged election took place last night in the great commonwealth of Virginia!” the POTUS wrote in a Truth Social post on Wednesday.

He alleged that Republicans had been leading earlier in the day before a late surge of mail-in ballots changed the result.

The Virginia vote approved a redistricting proposal backed by Democrats, a move that could expand their current 6-5 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation to a much larger margin.

The result is being viewed as a setback for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections, though it is also expected to face legal challenges.

Ocasio-Cortez also responded to Trump’s reaction, taking a sarcastic tone.

“I’m sooo sorry for his heartbreak at this moment, and I look forward to adding ten more Democratic colleagues in November,” she said.