by Andrew Kerr
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has outraised all other freshmen representatives so far in 2019, but nearly all of her reported contributors to her reelection campaign live outside her congressional district, a Daily Caller News Foundation analysis of Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings found.
Ocasio-Cortez’s reelection campaign has reported receiving contributions from just 10 individuals living within her district in the first half of 2019, according to its Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
The FEC only requires that political campaigns disclose the names and addresses of individuals who contribute over $200 to their campaigns during an election. Campaigns report their big-dollar donors to the FEC in what’s called itemized contributions.
The $1,525.50 Ocasio-Cortez received from her New York constituents represents less than 1% of her campaign’s itemized contributions reported to the FEC in the first half of 2019.
The known monetary support Ocasio-Cortez’s reelection campaign has received from the people she represents is minuscule compared to the 88-member freshman class of the House of Representatives.
The average freshman representative’s reelection campaign received $107,141.29 in itemized contributions from their constituents in the first half of 2019, FEC filings the DCNF analyzed show. Ocasio-Cortez’s reported in-district fundraising haul of $1,525.50 was just 1.4% of that average.
The Ocasio-Cortez campaign didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment seeking additional information regarding how many of her un-itemized contributions came from her constituents.
However, Ocasio-Cortez holds a significant lead over the freshman class in the amount of small-dollar contributions she’s received. Just 17% of Ocasio-Cortez’s individual contributions were from big-dollar donors who gave over $200 to her campaign in the first half of 2019. The median freshman representative received nearly 89% of their individual contributions from big-dollar donors.
Each representative is answerable to a congressional district comprised of between 530,000 to 995,000 people, according to the U.S. Census. The DCNF determined which of Ocasio-Cortez’s donors came from her congressional district by comparing the nine-digit zip codes her contributors reported to the FEC to the House of Representatives ZipLook tool, which links nine-digit zip codes to congressional districts.
Only one freshman representative reported receiving less from their constituents than Ocasio-Cortez: Democratic Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas. Garcia’s reelection campaign reported itemized contributions of $14,400, all of which came from individuals with addresses outside her district.
Ocasio-Cortez’s apparent lackluster fundraising performance from her constituents lends credibility to a poll conducted by a conservative PAC in May. It found that only 20% of households in the representative’s district held a favorable opinion of her.
The data also reveal that two of Ocasio-Cortez’s colleagues in the so-called “Squad” of freshman Democratic congresswomen — Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan — also rank among the lowest-performing freshman representatives in terms of reported financial support from people who live within their districts.
Tlaib reported receiving $470,430.11 in itemized contributions in the first half of 2019, but less than 2% came from individuals living within her district.
And while Omar reported $717,831.22 in itemized contributions to her reelection campaign so far in 2019, just over 4% came from her constituents.
A fourth squad member, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, far outperformed the others. The Massachusetts Democrat received more than 3o% of her $248,280.78 itemized contributions from her constituents.
Freshman Republicans dominated freshman Democrats in receiving a greater share of their reported contributions from the people they represent.
Of the 10 freshman representatives who received the lowest percent of their itemized contributions from their constituents, eight are Democrats. On the other end, seven of the 10 top-performing freshman representatives in this category are Republicans.
Leading the freshman class in receiving the greatest share of itemized contributions from their constituents was Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson. Over 94% of Johnson’s itemized contributions of $129,250 came from people living within his district.
An Economist and YouGov survey in July found that Americans have a very unfavorable view of the “Squad.” Just 33% of Americans have a favorable view of Ocasio-Cortez, followed by Omar with a 25% combined favorability rating, Tlaib with 24%, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts with 22%.
| Name | Total Individual Contributions | Total Big-Dollar Itemized Contributions (Donors over $200) | Percent of Individual Contributions Itemized | Itemized Contributions From Representative’s District |
Percent of Itemized Contributions From Representative’s District
|
| Sylvia Garcia (D) | $19,254.66 | $14,400.00 | 74.79% | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) | $1,942,358.67 | $334,401.45 | 17.22% | $1,525.50 | 0.46% |
| TJ Cox (D) | $395,373.37 | $334,075.74 | 84.50% | $1,555.00 | 0.47% |
| Rashida Tlaib (D) | $604,399.35 | $470,430.11 | 77.83% | $7,865.00 | 1.67% |
| Ilhan Omar (D) | $1,429,170.08 | $717,831.22 | 50.23% | $30,361.50 | 4.23% |
| Katie Hill (D) | $994,620.99 | $792,096.73 | 79.64% | $36,899.00 | 4.66% |
| Gil Cisneros (D) | $293,657.74 | $251,363.29 | 85.60% | $11,737.00 | 4.67% |
| Josh Harder (D) | $1,331,788.20 | $1,190,090.89 | 89.36% | $61,050.54 | 5.13% |
| Lance Gooden (R) | $229,275.00 | $228,350.00 | 99.60% | $16,400.00 | 7.18% |
| Michael Waltz (R) | $235,841.00 | $226,950.00 | 96.23% | $17,000.00 | 7.49% |
| Ben McAdams (D) | $562,753.74 | $523,677.14 | 93.06% | $39,735.00 | 7.59% |
| Max Rose (D) | $1,083,342.95 | $1,027,208.78 | 94.82% | $79,737.50 | 7.76% |
| Abby Finkenauer(D) | $510,433.79 | $429,354.16 | 84.12% | $35,307.00 | 8.22% |
| Elissa Slotkin (D) | $1,008,296.17 | $880,282.11 | 87.30% | $76,009.78 | 8.63% |
| Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) | $803,875.30 | $720,117.00 | 89.58% | $77,048.00 | 10.70% |
| Lauren Underwood (D) | $785,054.66 | $606,567.28 | 77.26% | $67,802.64 | 11.18% |
| Lucy McBath (D) | $852,067.87 | $595,127.82 | 69.85% | $67,246.96 | 11.30% |
| Xochitl Torres Small (D) | $740,294.03 | $600,433.03 | 81.11% | $69,325.00 | 11.55% |
| Katie Porter (D) | $1,106,710.25 | $773,992.24 | 69.94% | $105,165.00 | 13.59% |
| Steven Horsford(D) | $321,106.58 | $299,119.14 | 93.15% | $41,111.75 | 13.74% |
| Kelly Armstrong(R) | $31,808.75 | $29,043.75 | 91.31% | $4,000.00 | 13.77% |
| Chuy García (D) | $116,911.09 | $102,467.00 | 87.65% | $14,300.00 | 13.96% |
| Elaine Luria (D) | $626,140.75 | $549,765.38 | 87.80% | $77,838.70 | 14.16% |
| Greg Steube (R) | $67,179.00 | $66,750.00 | 99.36% | $9,600.00 | 14.38% |
| Dan Crenshaw(R) | $934,942.34 | $722,237.73 | 77.25% | $104,285.00 | 14.44% |
| Angie Craig (D) | $489,326.93 | $397,086.45 | 81.15% | $57,945.66 | 14.59% |
| Jared Golden (D) | $373,097.56 | $272,273.05 | 72.98% | $39,822.48 | 14.63% |
| Greg Pence (R) | $372,024.92 | $130,370.50 | 35.04% | $19,185.00 | 14.72% |
| David Trone (D) | $118,713.50 | $116,920.00 | 98.49% | $17,500.00 | 14.97% |
| Andy Kim (D) | $894,830.09 | $757,055.24 | 84.60% | $116,658.03 | 15.41% |
| Kim Schrier (D) | $874,771.19 | $759,192.50 | 86.79% | $123,315.00 | 16.24% |
| Jason Crow (D) | $726,335.19 | $684,702.59 | 94.27% | $121,412.50 | 17.73% |
| Antonio Delgado(D) | $1,246,283.06 | $1,113,731.28 | 89.36% | $211,584.90 | 19.00% |
| Ann Kirkpatrick(D) | $287,640.53 | $211,797.48 | 73.63% | $40,512.70 | 19.13% |
| Abigail Spanberger (D) | $825,522.76 | $672,998.41 | 81.52% | $136,372.19 | 20.26% |
| Chip Roy (R) | $502,204.08 | $400,561.68 | 79.76% | $86,014.00 | 21.47% |
| Van Taylor (R) | $460,101.18 | $451,135.18 | 98.05% | $98,403.00 | 21.81% |
| Deb Haaland (D) | $291,785.00 | $259,050.14 | 88.78% | $56,844.15 | 21.94% |
| Jim Hagedorn (R) | $251,080.85 | $232,460.85 | 92.58% | $56,205.85 | 24.18% |
| Haley Stevens (D) | $920,865.63 | $807,461.19 | 87.69% | $202,638.20 | 25.10% |
| Jim Baird (R) | $14,125.00 | $12,850.00 | 90.97% | $3,500.00 | 27.24% |
| Anthony Gonzalez(R) | $202,867.65 | $195,425.64 | 96.33% | $56,150.00 | 28.73% |
| Russ Fulcher (R) | $23,412.00 | $21,700.00 | 92.69% | $6,450.00 | 29.72% |
| Anthony Brindisi(D) | $591,627.59 | $495,777.36 | 83.80% | $149,782.36 | 30.21% |
| Ayanna Pressley(D) | $312,985.29 | $248,280.78 | 79.33% | $75,482.00 | 30.40% |
| Sharice Davids(D) | $643,902.57 | $510,287.26 | 79.25% | $160,247.59 | 31.40% |
| Jahana Hayes (D) | $321,566.17 | $240,832.36 | 74.89% | $77,497.00 | 32.18% |
| Chrissy Houlahan(D) | $501,713.67 | $451,162.18 | 89.92% | $146,122.84 | 32.39% |
| Cindy Axne (D) | $641,431.92 | $541,935.18 | 84.49% | $175,809.96 | 32.44% |
| Denver Riggleman (R) | $115,289.80 | $88,935.00 | 77.14% | $29,000.00 | 32.61% |
| Bryan Steil (R) | $413,826.96 | $371,915.78 | 89.87% | $123,502.38 | 33.21% |
| Jennifer Wexton(D) | $738,706.93 | $652,496.66 | 88.33% | $222,848.66 | 34.15% |
| Susie Lee (D) | $594,593.86 | $559,914.45 | 94.17% | $194,685.20 | 34.77% |
| Mikie Sherrill (D) | $735,156.28 | $630,634.87 | 85.78% | $222,515.32 | 35.28% |
| Ron Wright (R) | $25,744.00 | $25,450.00 | 98.86% | $9,100.00 | 35.76% |
| Dan Meuser (R) | $58,945.00 | $57,500.00 | 97.55% | $20,850.00 | 36.26% |
| Dean Phillips (D) | $368,971.21 | $322,445.50 | 87.39% | $117,687.50 | 36.50% |
| Pete Stauber (R) | $248,390.57 | $204,844.87 | 82.47% | $77,539.87 | 37.85% |
| Andy Levin (D) | $72,648.11 | $62,939.51 | 86.64% | $24,314.51 | 38.63% |
| Chris Pappas (D) | $397,280.19 | $346,052.65 | 87.11% | $134,811.00 | 38.96% |
| Guy Reschenthaler (R) | $159,915.37 | $92,962.00 | 58.13% | $36,325.00 | 39.08% |
| Sean Casten (D) | $711,623.71 | $557,797.91 | 78.38% | $218,961.20 | 39.25% |
| Greg Stanton (D) | $244,635.67 | $220,262.07 | 90.04% | $87,482.85 | 39.72% |
| Mike Levin (D) | $687,264.84 | $575,308.89 | 83.71% | $234,085.14 | 40.69% |
| Tom Malinowski(D) | $930,251.46 | $837,319.51 | 90.01% | $342,988.50 | 40.96% |
| Lori Trahan (D) | $512,259.11 | $512,259.11 | 100.00% | $216,498.92 | 42.26% |
| Donna Shalala (D) | $553,638.60 | $543,580.36 | 98.18% | $232,725.36 | 42.81% |
| Madeleine Dean(D) | $85,719.93 | $70,318.00 | 82.03% | $30,568.00 | 43.47% |
| Harley Rouda (D) | $752,720.59 | $665,979.51 | 88.48% | $290,811.38 | 43.67% |
| Kendra Horn (D) | $709,274.10 | $587,073.61 | 82.77% | $259,028.14 | 44.12% |
| Ross Spano (R) | $153,105.00 | $152,578.00 | 99.66% | $70,178.00 | 45.99% |
| Steve Watkins (R) | $129,128.67 | $125,299.67 | 97.03% | $59,899.67 | 47.81% |
| Joe Neguse (D) | $303,243.93 | $282,601.00 | 93.19% | $135,826.00 | 48.06% |
| Colin Allred (D) | $885,191.08 | $835,283.96 | 94.36% | $402,298.62 | 48.16% |
| William Timmons(R) | $72,600.00 | $72,300.00 | 99.59% | $39,450.00 | 54.56% |
| Ben Cline (R) | $131,142.00 | $116,700.00 | 88.99% | $66,200.00 | 56.73% |
| Joe Cunningham(D) | $1,167,957.55 | $1,044,744.28 | 89.45% | $605,589.50 | 57.97% |
| Jeff Van Drew (D) | $431,116.33 | $413,768.76 | 95.98% | $241,158.76 | 58.28% |
| Mark Green (R) | $170,967.70 | $170,967.70 | 100.00% | $102,338.70 | 59.86% |
| Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (D) | $828,585.72 | $776,808.00 | 93.75% | $466,978.08 | 60.11% |
| Carol Miller (R) | $63,469.78 | $62,100.00 | 97.84% | $41,130.50 | 66.23% |
| John Rose (R) | $222,280.00 | $219,800.00 | 98.88% | $160,200.00 | 72.88% |
| John Joyce (R) | $111,178.62 | $108,150.00 | 97.28% | $85,750.00 | 79.29% |
| Ed Case (D) | $26,383.00 | $20,150.00 | 76.37% | $16,150.00 | 80.15% |
| Michael Guest (R) | $100,768.32 | $97,682.52 | 96.94% | $81,450.00 | 83.38% |
| Veronica Escobar(D) | $139,776.83 | $132,345.20 | 94.68% | $113,645.20 | 85.87% |
| Tim Burchett (R) | $236,254.00 | $216,585.00 | 91.67% | $196,250.00 | 90.61% |
| Dusty Johnson(R) | $152,541.00 | $137,050.00 | 89.84% | $129,250.00 | 94.31% |
Source: Federal Election Commission and https://ziplook.house.gov/zip/ziplook.html
– – –
Andrew Kerr is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “AOC Rally” by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Thank goodness their constituents have more common sense than they do.