“Squad” member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won her Democratic primary challenge against former investment banker Marty Dolan on Tuesday evening. 

The Associated Press called the race minutes after polls closed at 9 p.m.

New York’s 14th Congressional District includes portions of the Bronx and Queens, and has been represented by Ocasio-Cortez since 2019. 

Dolan, 66, ran as a “progressive” Democrat, but not a “radical,” as he described Ocasio-Cortez on the campaign trail. Dolan pitched himself to voters as the politician who could correct Ocasio-Cortez’s record in office on spiraling immigration issues, lowering taxes and taking on New York City’s “financial cancer.” 

AOC CALLS NETANYAHU ‘WAR CRIMINAL,’ SAYS HE SHOULD NOT ADDRESS CONGRESS

“I think people just had enough of radicalism,” he told Just the News last week. “They’re just completely fed up with it.”

“AOC is absent on community,” Dolan added. “She’s not around. She’s absent on crime. She’s not around. She’s off doing things that are making her famous.”

Ocasio-Cortez is a founding member of Congress left-wing “Squad,” an informal group of nine progressive congressional Democrats. Her win in 2018, at just 29 years old, rocked the election cycle, unseating 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary. She has since become the leading voice of the Squad, benefiting from support from youths and Democratic Socialist voters. 

The progressive Democrat has come under increasing fire from moderate Democrats and Republicans since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched attacks on Israel, sparking a war that is ongoing. Ocasio-Cortez has repeatedly denounced Israel’s response to the attacks, slamming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and encouraging protesters on Columbia’s campus earlier this year as they established an encampment demanding the elite school cut funding from Israel.

SQUAD’ DEMS FURIOUS AT NETANYAHU’S INVITE TO CONGRESS: ‘ACCUSED WAR CRIMINAL’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Capitol Hill, April 30, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The primary was held after Ocasio-Cortez joined fellow Squad member and New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman at a rally on Saturday, which came under fire from another New York Democrat for Bowman’s profanity-laced speech. 

NY DEM SLAMS ‘SQUAD’ MEMBER’S PROFANITY-LACED RANT AT RALLY WITH AOC: ‘UNHINGED’

Bowman lashed out against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Political Action Committee (AIPAC), the pro-Israel advocacy group supporting his Democratic primary challenger, longtime New York Democrat George Latimer, who currently serves as Westchester County Executive. 

Rep. Jamaal Bowman greets Sen. Bernie Sanders while he campaigns in the Bronx, June 22, 2024. (Reuters/Joy Malone)

“We are going to show f—ing AIPAC, the power of the motherf—ing South Bronx!” Bowman said at Saturday’s rally held in St. Mary’s Park in Mott Haven. “People ask me why I got a foul mouth. What am I supposed to do? You’re coming after me! You’re coming after my family! You’re coming after my children! I’m not supposed to fight back?”

REP. BOWMAN SAYS AIPAC WILL SEE ‘POWER OF THE MOTHERF—ING BRONX’ DURING RALLY SPEECH

“We’re going to show them who the f— we are!” he added, jumping around the stage.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks during a rally for Rep. Jamaal Bowman at St. Mary’s Park on June 22, 2024, in the Bronx.  (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., slammed the speech as an “unhinged tirade” that does not resemble “the decency of the people I know and represent in the South Bronx.” 

AOC SLAMMED FOR SAYING ‘FALSE ACCUSATIONS’ OF ANTISEMITISM ARE ‘WIELDED AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR’

Ocasio-Cortez had her own viral moments during the rally, including videos that spread on social media showing the congresswoman shouting over sexually explicit lyrics from the Cardi B song “Enough,” banging on a podium, and knocking over microphones at one point. 

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The event was held to rally support for Bowman ahead of his primary challenge against Latimer, who has not lost an election across his three decades in politics. 

Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report. 

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The San Jose Sharks added a foundational piece to their rebuilding plan by choosing Boston University center Macklin Celebrini with the first pick in the NHL draft Friday.

Celebrini’s selection came as no surprise after the 18-year-old became just the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player. He did so as the nation’s youngest player, too, finishing second with 34 goals and third with 64 points in 38 games.

The 6-foot, 200-pound player from North Vancouver, British Columbia, already has ties to the Bay Area. Celebrini played for the Junior Sharks program after his father, Rick, was hired to be the Golden State Warriors’ sports medicine director.

“Just a surreal feeling,” Celebrini said in becoming the Sharks’ first No. 1 overall pick. “I’ve dreamed about this moment ever since I was a kid, and for it to come true, it’s just an amazing feeling.”

Celebrini was undecided on whether he will return to BU for a second year, but he deepens a talented prospect pool on a Sharks team in the midst of its longest playoff drought, now spanning five years.

The Chicago Blackhawks took Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov of Belarus with the second pick. This marked the third draft to have college players to go 1-2, and first since 2021 when Michigan teammates Owen Power and Matty Beniers were chosen first and second.

Levshunov became the fourth overall player from Belarus to be selected in the first round of the NHL draft, and first since first since Montreal took forward Andrei Kostitsyn 10th in 2003. He also became the earliest selected player from Belarus chosen after defenseman Ruslan Salei went ninth to Anaheim in 1996.

Anaheim followed with what was considered a surprise pick in selecting Oshawa forward Beckett Sennecke, who could be seen mouthing “Oh, my God,” to his father upon hearing former Ducks star Scott Niedermayer announce the pick. Sennecke was ranked 12th among North American players by NHL Central Scouting after finishing with 27 goals and 68 points in 63 games last season in the Ontario Hockey League.

Columbus followed by selecting Medicine Hat center Cayden Lindstrom at No. 4.

Montreal created a stir by having French-Canadian pop star Celine Dion announce their selection of Russian forward Ivan Demidov with the fifth pick.

The Utah Hockey Club was set to pick sixth after the franchise relocated from Arizona to Salt Lake City in April.

Celebrini’s selection was announced by former Sharks star Joe Thornton — drafted No. 1 by Boston in 1997. Thornton opened by saying, “The San Jose Sharks are proud to select from Boston University,” before briefly pausing with a smile, and then said Celebrini’s name and pointing to him in the stands.

“I’m super excited he made the pick,” Celebrini said. “Obviously, a Sharks legend and an NHL legend, so that was real exciting.”

The draft featured the added spectacle of being held at the year-old Sphere, a globe-shaped venue over-looking the Las Vegas strip and featuring video screens on the inside and outside of its structure.

The 32 teams were gathered at tables beneath the wrap-around screen covering almost three-quarters of the curved wall broadcasting scenes from the draft to the crowd overlooking the floor and seated the multi-deck facility. The draft opened with the screen featuring pictures of more than 100 of the eligible prospects.

A small stage was erected in the middle of the floor, where Commissioner Gary Bettman was joined by teams to announce the selections.

Celebrini failed to register a point in just six games at BU. His production accelerated over the second half of the season by combining for 22 goals and 39 points in his final 17 games in helping the Terriers reach the Frozen Four, which they lost in the semifinal to eventual champion Denver.

An NHL Central Scouting report referred to him as being “a strong skater with fluid stride, elusive speed and quickness. … The go-to for one-timers on the power play. Plays a heads-up complete game.”

Whenever Celebrini turns pro upon consulting with his family, the Sharks and BU, he’ll join a Sharks’ youth movement that includes their two first-round picks last year, forwards Will Smith and OHL forward Quentin Musty. Then there’s the Swedish duo of Filip Bystedt, San Jose’s 2022 first-round pick, who made his minor-league debut last season, and William Eklund, who has 18 goals and 52 points in 97 NHL games since being drafted seventh in ’21.

“Having the first overall pick, it’s a big moment for the organization, to have someone hopefully that can be a big part of our core and play here for a long, long time,” third-year GM Mike Grier said earlier this week.

“It’s definitely doing a good job of laying (the foundation). I don’t know if it’s finishing the foundation,” he added. “It’s definitely an important time, an important draft, but we still got some work to do to kind of round things out and keep building up the prospect pool.”

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

PITTSBURGH — Just when the Brandon Aiyuk sweepstakes feel over, the Pittsburgh Steelers are dragged back in. The contract talks between the San Francisco 49ers and Aiyuk still haven’t bore fruit, despite repeated efforts. As it stands, he hasn’t signed an extension, and speculation surrounding his future continues.

It doesn’t help that there is some calculated negotiating through the media taking place. Aiyuk has been vocal on social media about the situation and his frustration. He’s also frequently seen with Washington Commanders’ rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, fueling the rumors that the Commanders are the frontrunner to land him.

But the gasoline poured into the fire is the media’s indulgence. The buzz and speculation is rampant online and on television. The latest came from former Steelers’ safety and NFL analyst Ryan Clark. On his podcast, The Pivot, Clark welcomed Aiyuk to discuss the situation.

On the show, Clark was pointed with his questions. He asked Aiyuk what uniform he envisioned himself in, and Aiyuk was equally pointed in return.

“Probably a Niners uniform, if not a Niners uniform probably a Washington Commanders uniform. If not a Washington Commanders uniform, probably Steelers uniform,” he said.

Clark told Aiyuk that he believed the Steelers were the best fit for him and his career ambitions. It almost came across as a recruiting pitch for the Black and Gold.

“And so, whether it’s in San Francisco, Washington, Pittsburgh, whatever team you play for, you’ve succeeded at every level, even with odds stacked against you,” Clark said. “So for us, we’re rooting for you. I wanna see you do well. Pittsburgh would be the best place for you to thrive.”

The writing is on the wall for the Steelers, but they are not giving up yet. In all likelihood, Aiyuk will remain with the 49ers. The main sticking point remains the yearly salary and whether the 49ers will give him $30 million or more. Until then, the Steelers remain in pursuit of Aiyuk and upgrading their wide receiver room.

Make sure you bookmark All Steelers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more

Subscribe to the All Steelers YouTube Channel