Scherie Murray, a local businesswoman from Queens, is shaking up the 2020 Congressional race by mounting a challenge for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s seat.
While Mrs. Murray isn’t the only Republican to go after Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, the nature of her challenge is one that is almost certain to grab the attention of local voters who are tired of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s ultra-progressive antics.
“There’s a crisis in Queens and it’s called AOC,” Murray’s pinned tweet reads. “She isn’t worried about us – she’s worried about being famous. That’s why I’m running for Congress.”
Murray was born in Jamaica, but immigrated to the United States with her family when she was nine years old. She worked for the New York City MTA Bus Depot while studying computer science and broadcast journalism. She later launched a television production and advertising company called The Esemel Group with the goal of creating good jobs in the community and increasing the number of minorities featured in media productions.
Given the fact that Murray has been a business owner for well over a decade, it is not surprising that her stated focus is to bring good jobs into her community. She has attacked Rep. Ocasio-Cortez for pushing Amazon out of New York, and thus destroying the possibility of creating more than 20,000 good jobs in the local community.
Murray has also attacked Rep. Ocasio-Cortez for her unwavering support of the Green New Deal, accurately pointing out that it would eliminate jobs not just in New York — but throughout the nation. She also puts a premium on toning down the nasty rhetoric coming out of Washington, and has committed to working with members of both parties to improve education, employment and infrastructure in the local area.
Naturally, Murray will face a lot of challenges in her push to become the congressional representative for the 14th Congressional district in New York. The seat that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez currently holds has been in Democratic hands since 1993. However, it is worth noting that many Democratic voters in the local area never really liked AOC in the first place. Records show that there are nearly 215,000 registered Democrat voters in the area. However, statistics reveal that just over 110,000 people voted in favor of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. Even many of those who did originally vote for Rep. Ocasio-Cortez may be looking for an alternative representative in next year’s election.
Stop the AOC Pac recently interviewed more than 22,500 voters in the 14th congressional district, and found that more than half of the people they talked to have an unfavorable view of the ultra-progressive congresswoman. More than 40% of local voters were unfamiliar with her while 33% of voters said they would vote against her next year. Only a measly 11% said that they felt AOC had their best interests in mind. While the mainstream media and progressive organizations make Rep. Ocasio-Cortez out to be a national star, the truth is that she is far more vulnerable than she appears.
Scherie Murray’s run for Congress in New York has the potential to upend the race and rid the House of Representatives of one of its most controversial members. While progressives are likely to either ignore or vehemently attack her in next year’s congressional elections, the truth is that AOC is more vulnerable than she likes to admit.
