But in recent months, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, whose area includes parts of Queens and the Bronx, has shown keen interest in more local issues and improving the profile of people much closer to home. On Wednesday, Ms Ocasio-Cortez will make her first state-level approval in the race for deputy chief, backing Ana María Archila, an activist some on the left believe has the potential to become the first Latina to be elected to a state post. Ms Ocasio-Cortez is expected to appear at a rally for Mrs Archila on Monday, a day before the June 28 by-elections, and will also send a fundraising email. Ms. Archila’s campaign believes the approval will increase donors, volunteers and empower left-wing Democrats to vote. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s support, confirmed by her spokeswoman Lauren Hitt, may also encourage other national progressive Democratic leaders to be more interested in the race.

A guide to the 2022 New York primary

As prominent Democratic officials try to defend their records, Republicans see opportunities to invade the general election.

“What the AOC stands for is a constituency of young people who are so tired of the passive Democrats’ passivity on the issues of our time, whether it’s the climate, the progress in dismantling the racist structure in our legal system or staying of employees “, Ms. said Archila in an interview. “The future of the Democratic Party is this new wave and this new generation.” Mrs. Archila, who runs with Jumaane D. Williams, the New York City attorney general, and Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, know each other. In 2019, Ms Archila was invited by Ms Ocasio-Cortez to speak on the state of the Union after she caught the country’s attention as she faced Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake in an elevator over Brett Kavanaugh’s candidacy for the Supreme Court. Ms Archila and another Democratic nominee for vice president, Diana Reyna, face a difficult challenge in trying to defeat newly-elected lawmaker Antonio Delgado, a former lawmaker who left the House last month. Some elected officials and union leaders are concerned that Governor Kathy Hotsul is running too low on a qualifying campaign and that it could hurt Mr Delgado’s chances, even though he has far more money than Ms Archila. “While the opposition may want to take advantage of a dormant electorate that does not know election day, we want as many voters as possible to know what is at stake in this race,” said Sochie Nnaemeka, the New York leader. Labor Party of Families, which has supported Ms. Archila. An endorsement by Ms Ocasio-Cortez does not guarantee victory. Last year, he supported Maya Wiley, a civil rights lawyer and former adviser to Mayor Bill de Blasio, in the race for mayor of New York. Ms Wiley came in third in the Democratic primary. Ms Ocasio-Cortez recently backed Alessandra Biaggi, a state senator representing parts of the Bronx and Westchester counties, in her main challenge to Sean Patrick Maloney, a moderate Democrat. Ms Ocasio-Cortez was also eager to settle local disputes, recently accusing New York City Councilwoman Adrienne Adams of playing “dirty politics” amid accusations that she eliminated discretionary funding under her control of the left. . – Leaning members who voted against the $ 101 billion budget. In May, he announced that he would support all of the New York Democratic Socialist candidates, as well as some who are supported by the progressive Workers’ Families Party. The two left-wing parties have at times disagreed with each other. This year they have lined up to support a handful of contestants hoping to elect long-serving incumbents to the state legislature, much like Ms. Ocasio-Cortez herself did in 2018. In several races, young women of color challenge males who have long-term service in regions whose demographics have evolved during their tenure. Others challenge heavy players, such as Senate Energy President Kevin Parker. Opponents claim that these veterans did not meet the progressive demands well enough. Most of these challengers are seeking seats in the State Assembly, which some on the left have seen as an obstacle to advancing a reform agenda through the state legislature. There are national echoes in some of these games. Jonathan Soto, the former Ocasio-Cortez organizer with her support, hopes to overthrow Michael Benedetto’s convention in the East Bronx. While campaigning to increase parental control in schools and expand access to health care, Mr. Soto accused Mr Benedetto of carrying water for conservatives, including former President Donald J. Trump, who donated to him several years ago. Mr Benedetto, who is backed by the state’s Democratic establishment, has vehemently denied the allegations. In a video he posted on Twitter, he announced: “Is Benedetto a supporter of Trump? Garbage! “Before throwing Mr. Soto’s campaign literature in a waiting bin. Mr Benedetto has echoed some conservative attacks on Ms Ocasio-Cortez to repel his rival, whom he has described as an outspoken extremist. Ms Inez E. Dickens, who is facing a controversial supporter,’s targeting Ms Ocasio-Cortez: “She really has to think about coming to my area because I’ll get up and push her away,” she said.