Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in September 2024.
When a car battery dies, most people reach for jumper cables or call AAA. But for one Capitol Hill staffer, the solution came in the form of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The progressive New York lawmaker made headlines after assisting a stranded motorist near the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11. The driver in distress? Evan Hollander, aide and driver for Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.).
Her chief of staff, Mike Casca, wasted no time turning the moment into a social media spectacle. He posted a photo of Ocasio-Cortez working under the hood of the car, captioning it:
“When your car battery expires on the Capitol plaza, instead of calling AAA you just need @AOC.”
The post quickly went viral, racking up millions of views and sparking a flurry of reactions. While some users cheered Ocasio-Cortez for stepping up, others saw it as yet another orchestrated PR stunt.
