'SHOW HER THE DOOR': AOC DECLARES WAR ON ELISE STEFANIK AND EVERY REPUBLICAN IN NYS
REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ HOLDS TOWN HALL MEETING IN THE MAGA STAR'S UPSTATE NEW YORK STRONGHOLD
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) about to address Democratic Party faithful in the rain outside a Town Hall in Plattsburgh, New York on July 20, 2025. Photo credit: JB Nicholas.
July 20, 2025
Firebrand Democratic Socialist of America Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declared war on Republicans throughout New York on Sunday, starting with Rep. Elise Stefanik, challenging North Country Democrats to defeat the MAGA star in next year's election.
"Show her the door Plattsburgh, you're not welcome here anymore," AOC declared during a Town Hall meeting in the small upstate city on the banks of Lake Champlain near the Canadian border—the heart of Stefanik's upstate New York Congressional district.
"So Elise did her farewell tour, and I think its time to finish the job," AOC said, referring to Stefanik's scuttled plan to vacate Congress when Pres. Donald J. Trump nominated her to be his ambassador to the United Nations in 2024.
Stefanik, 41, has held her seat, NY-21, since she first rode a MAGA wave to victory in 2015. Pres. Trump, in a March 2025 Truth Social post announcing she would stay in Congress, called her "one of my biggest Allies."
"With a very tight Majority" in Congress, Trump explained, "I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat."
In addition to Stefanik, AOC said "Every single Republican at every level of Government in the State of New York must be challenged point blank period."
"They should not be challenged with old ideas," AOC added. "They need to be challenged fighting for health care as a human right for every American."
The event was co-hosted by Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20). He introduced AOC as "Alex” and called her ”the today of the party. ”
Congressional Representatives Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) address Democratic Party faithful in the rain outside a Town Hall in Plattsburgh, New York on July 20, 2025. Photo credit: JB Nicholas.
When it came to Stefanik, AOC said 40,000 upstate New Yorkers in Stefanik’s district would lose health insurance because of what Trump called the "Big Beautiful Bill" that the President and the Republican-controlled Congress, including Stefanik, just enacted.
"We will not forget what they did," Rep. Ocasio-Cortex declared.
"There are consequences to ... taking away peoples' healthcare. There are consequences. Consequences for going against a living wage."
About 1,750 people wrapped around the block and down the street from the theater where the meeting was held. Although ominous grey clouds blocked the sun and occasionally dropped rain, attendees chatted amiably among each other as they waited in line. They were greated with cheers from volunteers when they entered the theater.
About 800 people wanting to attend were turned away after the theater quickly filled. AOC and Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20) addressed them as they gathered in a nearby park. Rain fell as they spoke.
"This is so inspiring," she said. "You all are here in the pouring rain. Coming together."
"And if there's anything that should be sending a strong message to Elise Stefanik and all the Republicans in New York State, it's that we are not going to let them get away with this," she said.
About 750,000 people live in Stefanik's district, according to the 2020 Census. The vast majority, more than 85%, are white. Many are middle-aged. The median-income was $58,800 in 2022, according to the Federal Reserve Bank.
AOC speaking apparently spontaneously to the crowd inside the theater without a teleprompter. Photo by JB Nicholas.
One of them, a woman who said she "worked in politics" and declined to give her name, said she was there because "I appreciate the breath of fresh air that AOC is."
Ella Country, another attendee, said she came because "I believe in AOC's Progressive policies and Plattsburgh is on the map now so fuck yeah I got to come out."
George Flynn said he had to see AOC because "Somebody as charismatic as her coming to this area is pretty awesome. I never thought I'd see someone like AOC up here."
Dylan Hewitt, a former White House trade official considering a run for Stefanik's seat, worked the crowd inside the theatre before the meeting started.
"Folks here have been overlooked and forgotten for far too long," Hewitt told The Free Lance. Stefanik, he said, "hasn't held a Town Hall since 2017."
"She's proud to say she was the deciding vote" in passing the Republican's "Big, Beautiful Bill," but Hewitt said "there are five hospitals that stand to close in the North Country because of it. I think that's wrong."
Fresh off helping Zohran Mamdani defeat Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s attack on Stefanik in Plattsburgh shows she is charting a new path in her political career.
She is charging into the vacuum created by lack of leadership among the national Democratic Party in the wake of its damning and demoralizing defeat by Trump, for a second time. AOC is almost single-handedly attempting to re-make the mainstream Democratic Party, literally from the ground, the street and now the farms of upstate New York up.
Will the North Country answer AOC's call?