Apparently, a bartender can handle Congress. I’m still trying to get everyone to like me.

Before Congress, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez worked as a waitress and bartender to help support her family.

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An official portrait

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s congressional portrait, photographed on November 30, 2018.

Photo: Franmarie Metzler / U.S. House Office of Photography · Source · Public domain — U.S. Congress
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In 2018, she defeated a long-serving incumbent in a Democratic primary and won a seat in the U.S. House. She took office in January 2019. Her path shows that an ordinary job need not limit what someone tries next.

You can disagree with her politics and still notice the leap. Your next step does not need unanimous approval. Even the group chat has not managed that.

A user-selected historical library story. She entered Congress on January 3, 2019; this is not presented as new reporting.