Soap Box in the Bronx by José A. Alvarado Jr.

As the polls close and the wani...ns, New York, November 6, 2018.

As the polls close and the waning moments NY-14 General Election begin to unfold, hopeful congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez takes a moment to decompress as she writes a concession speech and victory speech as her mother, Blanca, irons her dress beside her, in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens, New York, November 6, 2018.

Soap Box in the Bronx: The Story of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
In the wake of the 2016 U.S. national election, discontent echoes amongst American cities. Changes in the way politicians are viewed and campaigns are run become a frequent storyline throughout the country. Leading a 28-year-old Bronx woman of Puerto Rican heritage, to run for office in her neighborhood of Parkchester. A campaign that started in her apartment, the same apartment she was raised, has begun to show similarities to the old age tale of David vs. Goliath. Her Goliath? The incumbent (D) Joseph Crowley and what local news is calling the “Queens Machine”. A system of patronage designed to control local elections and prop up establishment power and moneyed interests. This will be Alexandria’s first time running for office in what is seen to be a very heated campaign race. The photographs in this series document Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as she navigates the road of her historic run for office. Spanning from her humble beginnings as a waitress, and Primary election victory, to become the nation's youngest woman ever elected into Congress, from her native district of NY-14, a district home to a population of over 75%, people of color and that had never elected a person of color to Congress before, to her first days on Capitol Hill.

Published on VICE on June 27, 2018
Published on LeMonde, M Le Mag du Monde on March 23, 2019
Published on New York Magazine on February 14, 2022

The early morning sun peers thr... Bronx, New York, May 11, 2018.

The early morning sun peers through the window as Alexandria steams one of her dresses in her bathroom before starting a day full of interviews, in the Parkchester neighborhood of The Bronx, New York, May 11, 2018.

As the afternoon rush floods th...ew York City, October 20, 2017.

As the afternoon rush floods the Mexican restaurant, Alexandria attends to patrons behind the bar at her part-time job in the Union Square restaurant, Flats Fix, in order to make ends meet, Manhattan borough of New York City, October 20, 2017.

As the election begins to open,...ew York City, November 6, 2018.

As the election begins to open, congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, holds the boots she wore for the first eight months of her campaign, in The Bronx borough of New York City, November 6, 2018.

Amongst chanting and song, Alex...an, New York, December 2, 2017.

Amongst chanting and song, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins the crowd of demonstrators being led by Black Lives Matter Greater New York Youth Coalition down Malcolm X Blvd, in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, December 2, 2017.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez patien...f New York City, June 11, 2018.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez patiently waits for her debate to begin against Congressman Joe Crowley as locals of the Queens neighborhood make their way into the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights, in the Queens borough of New York City, June 11, 2018.

A view of one of the buildings ...f New York City, April 6, 2018.

A view of one of the buildings that make up much of neighborhood Parkchester, the same neighborhood Alexandria was born and where her campaign took its first steps, in The Bronx neighborhood of New York City, April 6, 2018.

In a rare moment of downtime, A...f New York City, April 8, 2018.

In a rare moment of downtime, Alexandria takes advantage of the opportunity to spend time with her boyfriend Riley Roberts at their Parkchester apartment, in The Bronx borough of New York City, April 8, 2018.

Alexandria and fundraising dire...lling site for nearly 50 years.

Alexandria and fundraising director for her campaign Michael Carter look over maps of district NY-14 before heading to an event at Lefrak City, in the Queens borough of New York City, April 7, 2018. The event was a discussion on how the community should move forward after the Board of Elections had filed an appeal to move the polling site in Lefrak City's continental room, a location in Lefrak City that has been the communities polling site for nearly 50 years.

Amongst chanting and song, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks to the crowd of demonstrators before the group is led by Black Lives Matter Greater New York Youth Coalition down Malcolm X Blvd, in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, December 2, 2017.

In the heat of the late summer ...eing detained by I.C.E. agents.

In the heat of the late summer in the Corona neighborhood, Alexandria goes door to door speaking with independent and unregistered voters of the area, in the Queens borough of New York City, September 24, 2017. Many homes kept their doors closed as the commotion rang inside. Families are fearful for their safety with the news of residents being detained by I.C.E. agents.

Alexandria quickly switches out...of New York City, July 5, 2017.

Alexandria quickly switches out of her footwear and into heels outside of Queens College before her talk with a group of journalism students, in the Queens borough of New York City, July 5, 2017.

A car displays posters of congr...f New York City, June 26, 2018.

A car displays posters of congressional candidate Ocasio-Cortez on its windows as volunteers and supporters make their way into the NY-14 Primary "Watch Party" at Park Billiards Cafe and Sports Bar, in The Bronx borough of New York City, June 26, 2018.

During peak rush hour Alexandri...w York City, February 19, 2018.

During peak rush hour Alexandria commutes to the home of legendary organizers Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead in St. Albans, Queens, for some research and campaign strategy, in the Queens borough of New York City, February 19, 2018.

View from the control room at N...of New York City, May 11, 2018.

View from the control room at NY1 of Alexandria during her on-air interview with Pure Política's, Juan Manuel Benítez, on NY1, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, May 11, 2018.

With the voter registration dea...eing opposed in fourteen years.

With the voter registration deadline a few weeks away, Alexandria's goes door to door speaking with independent and unregistered voters of the area, in the Queens borough of New York City, September 24, 2017. Her ever-growing support has forced the incumbent (D) Joseph Crowley to acknowledge her as a candidate for NY-14 resulting in the incumbent's first time being opposed in fourteen years.

NY-14 Congressional candidate A...of New York City, May 11, 2018.

NY-14 Congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quickly applies makeup on the way to her on-air interview with Pure Política's, Juan Manuel Benítez, on NY1, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, May 11, 2018.

Congressional candidate Alexand...f New York City, June 26, 2018.

Congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks to a crowd of volunteers on the sidewalk outside Ellie's Diner in Ocasio-Cortez home neighborhood of Parkchester as the polls officially close for the NY-14 Primary, in The Bronx borough of New York City, June 26, 2018.

As the polls begin to close on ...ew York City, November 6, 2018.

As the polls begin to close on the eve of NY-14 General Election, volunteers and supporters make their way into the election night party at the Woodside neighborhood Latin night club venue, La Boom, in the Queens borough of New York City, November 6, 2018.

Roars erupt into the air at the...f New York City, June 26, 2018.

Roars erupt into the air at the Park Billiards Cafe and Sports Bar as congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez officially won the NY-14 primary against incumbent and Democratic party heavyweight, Joseph Crowley, in The Bronx borough of New York City, June 26, 2018.

Confetti falls from the sky and...ew York City, November 6, 2018.

Confetti falls from the sky and covers supporters at the Woodside neighborhood Latin night club La Boom moments after Alexandria delivered her victory speech to the crowd of supporters and volunteers, in the Queens borough of New York City, November 6, 2018.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio...es of America, January 2, 2019.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez patiently waits for the start of an interview in a sound studio in the United States Capitol Complex, in Washington D.C. District of Columbia, United States of America, January 2, 2019.

Members of the NYPD Law Enforce...w York City, February 16, 2019.

Members of the NYPD Law Enforcement Explorer program rehearse moments before the start of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez's inaugural ceremony, where she spoke with constituents about her agenda in office, at the Renaissance School for Musical Theater and Technology, in the Bronx borough of New York City, February 16, 2019.

Alexandria and her Mother Blanc...ew York City, November 6, 2018.

Alexandria and her Mother Blanca, right, take a moment to eat and decompress in an Astoria Pizzeria, before heading to their remaining campaign stops to speak with constituents on the day of the NY-14 General Election, in the Queens borough of New York City, November 6, 2018.

"A-O-C" chant...w York City, February 16, 2019.

"A-O-C" chants erupt into the air of the Renaissance School for Musical Theater and Technology as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks to constituents about her agenda in office during her formal inaugural address at the Renaissance School for Musical Theater and Technology, in the Bronx borough of New York City, February 16, 2019.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio...es of America, January 3, 2019.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, center, has her hair braids put back into place before she is off to take the oath of office by her Mother, Blanca, left, as she is surrounded by supporters who made the five-hour bus trip from her district, in the Cannon House Office Building, Washington D.C. District of Columbia, United States of America, January 3, 2019.

A sign sits taped onto a chain-...w York City, February 16, 2019.

A sign sits taped onto a chain-link fence directing constituents to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's inaugural ceremony at the Renaissance School for Musical Theater and Technology, in the Bronx borough of New York City, February 16, 2019.

Congressional candidate Alexand...New York City, August 12, 2018.

Congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sits and listens to the concerns of her Queens constituents at a town hall forum in Corona, in the Queens borough of New York City, August 12, 2018.

A book whose title reads &q...es of America, January 2, 2019.

A book whose title reads "90-Day Roadmap" sits on top of a desk in the office of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the Cannon House Office Building, in Washington D.C. District of Columbia, United States of America, January 2, 2019.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio... women's right to vote.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, center, is accompanied by loved ones as she navigates the underground tunnels of the United States Capitol Complex to take the oath of office, in Washington D.C. District of Columbia, United States of America, January 3, 2019. Seizing an opportunity to shine a light on history, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wears an all-white suit as an homage to the brave women of the United States of American who fought for the 19th Amendment, a women's right to vote.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stands in her congressional office for the first time the day before taking the oath of office and officially becoming Representative of Ny-14, in Washington D.C. District of Columbia, United States of America, January 2, 2019.

José A. Alvarado Jr.

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