Mike Lawler dubs AOC leader of the Democratic Party as constituents grapple with her absence

Rep.Mike Lawler crowned “Squad” Rep.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the de facto leader of the Democratic Party while mocking other Dems for flailing in their efforts to helm the resistance to President Trump.Speaking on a “Real Time with Bill Maher” panel, Lawler (R-NY) ridiculed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) efforts to best Trump and predicted that Ocasio-Cortez would win a primary against him.“Chuck Schumer has been in elected office for 50 years, 1974 he was first elected — 50 years [ago].

AOC will absolutely kick his ass in a primary,” Lawler told comedian Bill Maher.“She is the leader of the Democratic Party in this moment, and will continue to be, I think, the biggest driver of where the party goes from a governmental policy standpoint, and that drives many of my colleagues crazy.”Schumer first ascended to the New York State Assembly in 1975, then to the US House of Representatives six years later and finally to the Senate in 1999.Lawler, who represents a very competitive district in southern New York, agreed with Democratic National Committee vice chair David Hogg that Dems need to start primarying some of their ineffective incumbents.The New York Republican pointed to Schumer as an example of a Democrat he believes is ineffective while riffing about Hogg’s controversial crusade to target “asleep at the wheel” members of his party.

“She has tapped into the base of support within the Democratic Party, and you see the juxtaposition between her and Chuck Schumer, ‘I’m writing a strongly worded letter,'” Lawler added.That’s a reference to Schumer’s announcement last month that he was writing a stern letter to Trump complaining about the administration’s freeze on funding for Harvard University, his alma mater.Ocasio-Cortez declined to primary Schumer in 2022.

But speculation has intensified that she may go after him in 2028 when he’s next up for reelection.Ocasio-Cortez would be eligible for the presiden...