Representative Alexandrio Ocasio-Cortez’s speech to the Democratic National Convention raised some confusion Tuesday night when she nominated Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for the party’s presidential candidate.
The freshman congresswoman used her 90-second speech slot on the second day of the DNC to praise the “mass popular movement that worked to establish the social, economic and human rights of the 21st century”, and formally nominated Joe Biden’s leading primary rival.
Commenting in a pre-recorded speech, Ocasio-Cortez said: “At a time when millions of people in the United States are seeking profound systemic solutions to our crisis of mass eviction, unemployment, and lack of health care.
“And el espíritu del pueblo, and out of love for all people, I hereby second the nomination of Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont for President of the United States of America.”
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The formal nomination of Sanders’ progressive lawmaker triggered inaccurate claims that she had somehow snubbed Biden, the presumptive nominee, who officially became the Democratic presidential candidate after winning more than 3,500 delegates.
Ocasio-Cortez was asked by the DNC to officially nominate the Vermont Senator under conventional rules that require any primary candidate who has passed a threshold of 300 to pass the roll call.
“If you were confused, do not worry! Agreement rules require roll call & nominations for every candidate who crosses the threshold of the delegate,” the congresswoman explained on Twitter. “I was asked to be the 2nd nom for Sen. Sanders for roll call. I extend my deepest congratulations to Joe Biden – let’s win in November.”
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Sanders himself made it clear Monday night that he was in no way contesting Biden’s candidacy, delivering a keynote speech in support of the former vice president on the opening day of the DNC.
“I say to you, to everyone who supported other candidates in the primary, and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election, the future of our democracy is at stake, the future of our economy is at stake, the future of our planet is at stake, ”said the senator.
“We need to come together, defeat Donald Trump, and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president.”
Biden was officially nominated on Tuesday as the Democratic presidential candidate after winning convention delegates counting in 57 states and territories amid for the most part virtual holidays.
Accepting the party’s nomination, the former vice president said, “Thank you very much, very much. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all.”
