Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her progressive House allies are threatening to run their more moderate Democrat colleagues out of office.
Ocasio-Cortez warned her fellow Democrats on Thursday that those who side with Republicans will be facing a primary challenge, according to a new report.
The intra-party rift came into clear view as it debated a House bill that requires a federal criminal background check for all gun purchases, including private transactions. The Bill clearly has broad Democrat support, however, one of the bill's versions included a provision that would facilitate deportations by reporting illegal immigrants who attempt to purchase a gun to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)- the inclusion of which is a complete deal breaker for Progressive Democrats such as Ocasio-Cortez.
The Progressive congresswoman said she would help progressive activists to unseat moderates in the next election- these as of yet unnamed moderates are “putting themselves on a list,” according to Corbin Trent, Ocasio-Cortez' spokesman.
Will the growing rift between the radical progressive wing of the Democrat party and its more moderate members ultimately fracture or will House Speaker Nancy Pelosi be able to maintain a very tenuous coalition that can present a united front against House Republicans and President Trump?
Right now, the freshman firebrand Ocasio-Cortez is stirring things up on her side of the aisle, but it's possible she may come to regret adopting a scorched earth policy that could undermine her party's current House majority.
