Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has paid a left-leaning political merchandise firm more than $1.4 million this year alone so she can sell t-shirts, sweatshirts and other merchandise emblazoned with her name other slogans, including ‘Tax the Rich’ and ‘Abolish ICE’.
The 31-year-old, who has become one of the most prominent progressive Democrats with her calls to tax the wealthy and fight climate change, is now investing heavily in her online store.
Her campaign paid Financial Innovations, a political merchandise firm, more than $1.4 million in the first six months of 2021, according to campaign disclosures to the Federal Election Commission late last week.
That figure is nearly double the total payments she has made to the same firm over the previous two years.
Financial Innovations, which is based in Cranston, Rhode Island, operates her online store and supplies the merchandise, which ranges from t-shirts and sweatshirts to hats, pins and socks.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has become one of the most prominent progressive Democrats with her calls to tax the wealthy and fight climate change, is now investing heavily in her online store
Her campaign paid Financial Innovations, a political merchandise firm, more than $1.4 million in the first six months of 2021 to help create items like this ‘Tax the Rich’ t-shirt
The company says 100 percent of its products are ‘ethically’ made in US factories.
It also says its products are made by union workers and sourced from companies owned by people of color, women and veterans.
It is not clear which factories or companies the products are sourced from.
The unions listed on its website include the Communications Workers of America and the United Steelworkers.
Financial Innovations has not responded to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
Financial Innovations, which has been around since 1984, specializes in political merchandise for Democrats and has been involved in campaigns for Elizabeth Warren, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Much of the merchandise on AOC’s website feature her name, ‘AOC’ initials or slogans including ‘Fight for our Future’ and ‘Drink Water & Don’t Be Racist’.
She was forced to defend her merchandise last year after she was criticized for selling a ‘Tax the Rich’ sweatshirt for $58 with conservatives pointing out her anti-capitalist stance and her calls for a billionaires’ tax in New York.
AOC argued at the time that the cost was justified because ‘we don’t use slave-wage labor’.
Political t-shirts and campaign swag were once a rarity on America’s streets but that changed markedly over the last six years as Donald Trump supporters adopted his trademark red ‘Make America Great Again’ cap.
Given merchandise is considered a campaign contribution, only those who are US citizens or permanent residents can buy them. Despite this, one of AOC’s most recent slogans is ‘Abolish ICE’
Much of the merchandise on AOC’s website feature her name, ‘AOC’ initials or slogans including ‘Fight for our Future’ and ‘Drink Water & Don’t Be Racist’
Financial Innovations, which is based in Cranston, Rhode Island, operates her online store and supplies the merchandise, which ranges from t-shirts and sweatshirts to hats, pins and socks
In addition to raising a candidate’s profile – and standing as a badge of identity in an increasingly polarized nation – political merchandise is a small but significant fundraising tool.
Merchandise sales count as campaign contributions but it’s not clear how much t-shirts and hoodies are bringing to Ocasio-Cortez’ coffers.
Campaign disclosures rarely specify whether a donation involved merchandise.
Given merchandise is considered a campaign contribution, only those who are US citizens or permanent residents can buy them.
Despite this, one of AOC’s most recent slogans is ‘Abolish ICE’.
In an emailed statement, Ocasio-Cortez’ campaign said its online store is focused on ‘uplifting independent artists of color whose work tells a story of community and imagines a more equitable world for all’.
Ocasio-Cortez’ push into merchandise shows she is honing an already formidable fundraising operation and building her brand within the Democratic Party.
‘It’s a sign she is nurturing her massive influence,’ said Andrew Frawley, who managed the merchandise operation for Andrew Yang’s 2020 presidential campaign, including his ‘Math’ T-shirts.
Frawley said the Ocasio-Cortez campaign could be making a 50 percent profit or more on much of its sales.
She was forced to defend her merchandise last year after she was criticized for selling a ‘Tax the Rich’ sweatshirt for $58 with conservatives pointing out her anti-capitalist stance and her calls for a billionaires’ tax in New York. AOC argued at the time that the cost was justified because ‘we don’t use slave-wage labor’
The company says 100 percent of its products are ‘ethically’ made in US factories and that they are made by union workers and sourced from companies owned by people of color, women and veterans
Merchandise sales count as campaign contributions but it’s not clear how much t-shirts and hoodies are bringing to Ocasio-Cortez’ coffers. Campaign disclosures rarely specify whether a donation involved merchandise
While she has no formal party leadership role, Ocasio-Cortez has star power rarely seen in the U.S. Congress.
She has more than 8 million Instagram followers and last year shot a video for Vogue detailing her personal skin care routine. Her online store capitalizes on her fame, experts said.
‘There’s the campaign finance aspect of it and, for lack of a better term, there’s the cult of personality aspect of it,’ said Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, who studies political branding at Stetson University.
Since defeating the then-chair of the House Democratic caucus in a 2018 primary and easily winning her seat to represent a swath of New York City, Ocasio-Cortez has become the face of progressive Democrats’ push for a ‘Green New Deal,’ a set of climate goals.
She faces little risk of losing her seat in a heavily liberal district when U.S. voters next year determine which party will control Congress for the second half of President Joe Biden’s term.
Her campaign has raised about $6.9 million since the November election, compared to $10.8 million by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and $23.9 million by Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, who is up for re-election in 2022 and viewed as a potential primary target for Ocasio-Cortez.
‘One would assume that she does have ambitions for higher office. Having a big bank account is certainly useful for that,’ said Erika Franklin Fowler, a political scientist affiliated with the Wesleyan Media Project’s Delta Lab research group, which calculated that the share of Ocasio-Cortez’ Facebook ads offering merchandise late last year was more than twice that of other House candidates.