Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is once again facing renewed criticism over her oft-repeated claims of being a proud “Bronx girl,” after details from her childhood in the New York suburbs resurfaced online—reminding critics and constituents alike that the progressive lawmaker spent much of her youth far from the borough she frequently invokes.
Before she was the face of the far-left “Squad” in Congress, Ocasio-Cortez was known simply as “Sandy” among classmates and teachers at Yorktown High School, nestled in Westchester County—roughly 35 miles north of the Bronx. The nickname and her suburban upbringing have stirred fresh debate about the authenticity of the congresswoman’s working-class image.
One of her former science teachers, Michael Blueglass, praised the young “Sandy” in a 2018 interview with local outlet Halston Media, recalling her as an exceptionally bright student. “She was incredible,” Blueglass said, noting her participation in the prestigious Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. “She had an amazing ability to explain complex ideas to anyone—one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Yet despite the accolades from her days in Yorktown Heights, Ocasio-Cortez has built much of her political identity around her Bronx roots. She often references her connection to the borough in public statements, campaign messaging, and social media—most recently taking a swipe at former President Trump, boasting that women from the Bronx “can eat Queens boys for breakfast.”
Critics, however, say the narrative doesn’t match the facts.
“She’s twisting herself in knots to dodge the fact that she was raised in the suburbs,” said New York State Assemblyman Matt Slater, a Republican representing Yorktown. “Around here, we all remember her simply as Sandy Cortez from Westchester.” Now, she’s scrambling to rewrite history.” Although Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx, her family moved to Yorktown in Westchester County when she was only five. While she has acknowledged splitting time between both places, some opponents argue she leans too heavily on her Bronx identity while downplaying her comfortable upbringing in Westchester.
Slater, who was a senior at Yorktown High during Ocasio-Cortez’s freshman year, recently posted a copy of her yearbook photo online. The post quickly went viral, sparking fierce online discussion and prompting a response from the congresswoman herself.
“I’m proud of my background,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. “My mom worked as a house cleaner, and I helped her out. We even bartered housework for SAT tutoring.”She added that growing up between two vastly different communities helped shape her political outlook. Experiencing life in both the Bronx and Yorktown gave me a firsthand look at inequality—that perspective drives my passion to fight for change.
Still, for many in her old hometown, the question remains: is AOC the Bronx firebrand she claims to be, or is she still just “Sandy” from Westchester?
