Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing renewed scrutiny after details from her childhood in the New York suburbs have resurfaced, challenging her longstanding image as a proud “Bronx girl.” Critics are pointing to her suburban upbringing as evidence of a disconnect between her political persona and her actual roots.
Before making her mark as a prominent figure in the progressive “Squad,” Ocasio-Cortez went by the name “Sandy” at Yorktown High School, located in Westchester County, about 35 miles north of the Bronx. This revelation has ignited fresh debate over the authenticity of her working-class image, with detractors questioning whether she has exaggerated her Bronx ties.
One of her former teachers, Michael Blueglass, fondly remembered “Sandy” in a 2018 interview, calling her an exceptionally gifted student. “She was incredible,” he said, highlighting her participation in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. “Her ability to explain complex ideas was one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Despite the accolades from her time in Yorktown Heights, Ocasio-Cortez has centered her political identity around her Bronx roots. She frequently references her connection to the borough in her public statements and social media posts. Most recently, she boasted that women from the Bronx “can eat Queens boys for breakfast” in a swipe at former President Trump.
However, critics argue that the narrative of Ocasio-Cortez as a working-class hero from the Bronx doesn’t align with her suburban upbringing.
“She’s twisting herself in knots to avoid the fact that she was raised in the suburbs,” said Matt Slater, a Republican member of the New York State Assembly representing Yorktown. “We all remember her as Sandy Cortez from Westchester. Now, she’s trying to rewrite history.”
Though Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx, her family moved to Yorktown when she was just five years old. While she has acknowledged spending time in both areas, some critics believe she downplays her comfortable suburban roots in favor of her Bronx identity.
Slater, who was a senior at Yorktown High during Ocasio-Cortez’s freshman year, recently shared her yearbook photo online. The post quickly went viral, sparking intense online debate and prompting a response from the congresswoman.
“I’m proud of my background,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “My mom worked as a house cleaner, and I helped her out. We even bartered housework for SAT tutoring.” She also emphasized that growing up between two different communities gave her a unique perspective on inequality, which fuels her political passion.
Still, for many in her former hometown, the question remains: Is AOC truly the Bronx firebrand she portrays, or is she just “Sandy” from Westchester?