It was a moment that rocked the political world. 

Little-known insurgent Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bested long-time Congressman Joe Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary, eventually going on to win a seat representing the Bronx and Queens on Capitol Hill.

What You Need To Know

  • After causing an earthquake in the political world, AOC has a growing cast of like-minded allies in Congress, including Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones from NY

  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argues the expanding progressive circle has had an impact, including during COVID relief negotiations earlier this year

  • AOC has threatened to vote against a bipartisan infrastructure bill, after Sen. Joe Manchin called for tapping the brakes on a far larger $3.5 trillion spending plan. She wants the two linked
  • With Democrats holding a slim majority in the House, the votes of Ocasio-Cortez and her expanded group of allies could make or break Biden’s agenda

Nearly three years later, now-Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez has a growing cast of like-minded allies in Congress. And in the coming weeks, they have a chance to exert their influence on the president’s agenda.

Two of those additions to her cohort of young progressives are from New York: Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones. She endorsed both.

“There is something to be said about the fact that New York is a progressive nexus in the House of Representatives in terms of the congressional delegation that we're sending,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “It’s next level.

Over the first few months of this term, Ocasio-Cortez and Bowman have frequently teamed up, pushing to fund an anti-gun violence program at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx and criticizing Israel during its deadly conflict with the Palestinians in May.

Bowman is the first male member of the so-called “Squad,” which was formed by Ocasio-Cortez and three other young progressive lawmakers last Congress.

“I love AOC. I love being a member of the Squad,” Bowman said.

Jones and Ocasio-Cortez also are close - an alliance that was clear when they took center stage together at a Capitol rally to extend the federal ban on evictions. The demonstrations ended when the Biden White House took further action to help renters.

Ocasio-Cortez argues the expanded progressive circle has had an impact, including during COVID relief negotiations earlier this year.

“I don't even think stimulus checks would happen without the election of individuals like Reps. Jones and Bowman adding to the ranks of very vocal progressives,” she said.

But now comes a big test.

If they choose, this progressive cohort could exert a great deal of influence in the coming weeks, as lawmakers determine the fate of President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda.

With Democrats holding a slim majority in the House, the votes of Ocasio-Cortez and her expanded group of allies could make or break Biden’s efforts.

Ocasio-Cortez recently threatened to vote against a bipartisan infrastructure bill, after moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin called for tapping the brakes on a far larger $3.5 trillion spending plan that includes climate and healthcare spending.

She wants the two linked together, as does Jones.

“I have great difficulty seeing how we do everything we need to do, including on the scale of what we need to do, if it is less than $3.5 trillion,” he said.

But will they stand by their push for the larger dollar figure, or will they buckle at the risk of nothing getting passed? 

Earlier this summer, a group of moderate Democrats entered a standoff with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the timing of a vote on the infrastructure measure, threatening to withhold votes on the larger $3.5 trillion plan. They eventually reached an agreement.