Who is John Cummings? 3 things to know about NY's congressional candidate
Cummings is running partially on a bid to attract voters who are unhappy with AOC
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}First-time GOP congressional candidate John Cummings is hoping to unseat Democratic incumbent Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York’s 14th congressional district on Tuesday.
Cummings is running partially on a promise to try and lure e-commerce giant Amazon back to Queens after Ocasio-Cortez “chased” it out, which is part of a larger bid to attract voters who are unhappy with the young congresswoman’s viewpoints – including her identification as a democratic socialist.
Ocasio-Cortez is widely expected to win reelection, however the race has become one of the most expensive House contests in the U.S., according to The New York Times.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Here are a few things to know about Cummings:
NYPD career
Cummings was sworn into the NYPD in 1983 and worked in the South Bronx. He was also an operations coordinator in the area.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He retired from the force in 1991 after suffering an injury in the line of duty.
He later took up a career as a teacher.
Cummings’ father was a law enforcement officer as well.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}HOUSE DEMOCRATS POISED TO EXPAND MAJORITY, AS REPUBLICANS WARN AGAINST AOC TAKEOVER
Platform
Cummings is running as a lifetime member of the district he hopes to serve, positioning Ocasio-Cortez as an outsider to that same community.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He is campaigning in favor of a free-market economy, freedom of choice for education, support for the police and as a candidate that would lift up the working class.
Democratic district
The district Cummings is running in is heavily Democratic but not heavily “socialist,” as Cummings said in a campaign video.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ocasio-Cortez handily defeated her challenger in the primaries earlier this year.