Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) is concerned about her safety post the attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in Florida. In an appearance on CNN show Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?, the New York Congresswoman said, “It is a very real dynamic and very unfortunately and tragically we’ve seen political violence play out”.

AOC also spoke of how her life has changed post a surge in political violence: “when I wake up in the morning, I hesitate to walk my dog. It means when I come home, I have to ask my fiancé to come out to where my car is to walk me just from my car to my front door.”

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After the 2021 January 6th Capitol riots, which saw Donald Trump supporters storming the US Capitol after it came to light that the then-sitting President was set to lose election, federal agencies warned that the treat of violence against lawmakers has increased.

AOC said, “It means that there’s just – a general disposition where you kind of feel like there’s almost a static electricity around you”. Earlier, the 33-year-old New York’s 14th congressional district Representative had said to the New York Times, that she receives an “astronomical” number of threats almost on a regular basis.

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The activist and politician believes that in this scenario she should voice her concerns in a more robust manner since she might not have enough time on her hands. She said in the interview, “I don’t want to take the time I have for granted. I don’t know if I’m going to be there to see us achieve guaranteed health care in the United States. So I need to advocate it in a very fully throated way right now”.

AOC also spoke about how not only “generational shifts”, but “substantial shifts” should happen within the Democratic Party. 

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She said that it would be for the best when “the leadership of the Democratic Party is less reliant on large and corporate donors and sponsorship, because that does have a shaping effect of our legislative priorities”.