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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is offering words of warning to her congressional colleagues in the wake of a Democratic socialist sweep in the Big Apple earlier this week.
Speaking with MS NOW’s Jen Psaki on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez was asked to provide advice for the two Democratic House of Representatives nominees — Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) members Darializa Avila Chevalier and State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez.
"What advice are you giving or would you have for these new members who are coming in and are already being painted in a certain way?" Psaki asked, adding, "What advice do you have for them about how to get things done while still shaking up the system at the same time?"
"New and incoming members have no shortage of advice that's being given to them," Ocasio-Cortez began.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez waves to the crowd ahead of Zohran Mamdani's inauguration as the 112th mayor at City Hall in New York City on Jan. 1, 2026. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
"But you lived it. And you lived it in a very different way," Psaki said.
Ocasio-Cortez went on to shift her answer toward offering advice to her fellow colleagues in the House of Representatives.
"I'll get to them, but I actually think the more important advice that I would give would be to my incumbent colleagues — which is you will create a self-fulfilling prophecy by deciding who these young women are before you've met them," Ocasio-Cortez said.
Darializa Avila Chevalier, U.S. Democratic House candidate for New York, speaks at a Get Out The Vote rally at Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York, on June 18, 2026, ahead of the state's primary election on June 23. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
She then tried to dissuade other members of Congress from jumping to conclusions about the newest members, warning them against creating an "antagonistic dynamic" before the pair of newly-nominated officials can even walk the halls of Capitol Hill.
"If you are already panicking and sending little messages in your group chats about how these people need to be reined in and tamped down and shown their place, you are creating the antagonistic dynamic that we do not need," Ocasio-Cortez said.
"These are two young, talented, intelligent women that got elected against all odds — against millions of dollars. Perhaps there is something we can learn from them," she concluded.
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Congressional candidate Claire Valdez acknowledges supporters during her primary-night watch party at 99 Scott Studio in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, on June 23, 2026. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Chevalier and Valdez, along with progressive Democrat and former DSA member Brad Lander, made headlines earlier this week when they coasted to primary victories in three heavily blue districts with the endorsement of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Chevalier came under harsh criticism for previous social media posts on X in which she took aim at fellow Democrats, including former President Joe Biden, whom she called a "rapist" and a "war criminal," Vice President Kamala Harris, whom she offered a string of profanities toward, and progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., whom she berated for his "liberal Zionism."
Critics also pointed to previous statements from Chevalier, in which she trashed the United States. In one instance, she referred to the country as "a f---ing disgrace."
Congressional candidate Claire Valdez, Congressional candidate Brad Lander, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier raise their hands during a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rally at King's Theater on June 18, 2026 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
"I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me," she said in a now-deleted post.
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While the posts have resulted in harsh blowback against Chevalier, Ocasio-Cortez offered a more understanding viewpoint when speaking with Psaki.
"She has indicated that she has regret over the way that she issued those statements," Ocasio-Cortez said, referring to Chevalier. "And I genuinely believe the gravity and responsibility of this role has a way of inhabiting you."
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"I genuinely believe that we have to give people the opportunity to occupy their beliefs within the gravity of becoming a duly elected member of Congress," she added.
Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
Julia Bonavita is a media and culture writer for Fox News Digital, and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and send story tips to [email protected].
