Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a self-proclaimed grassroots politician, has been found to be heavily funded by celebrities, affluent activists, and executives, according to a review by The New York Post.
Despite her claims of relying on small donations from everyday people, a closer look at her campaign finances reveals a different story.
As reported by The New York Post, even the small-dollar contributions to Ocasio-Cortez's campaign are often larger than they initially appear, thanks to an accounting loophole that allows substantial donors to appear as minor ones. Among the high-profile contributors hidden within her extensive Federal Election Commission reports is actress and activist Jane Fonda, who has donated $8,300 to Ocasio-Cortez over the years, including $500 in the first half of 2025 alone.
Ocasio-Cortez's $20 million campaign fund also includes contributions from several other notable figures. Al Kamen, a former columnist for the Washington Post, donated $7,100, making him Ocasio-Cortez's top donor as of the end of June. Other contributors include Samuel Maruca, a corporate tax attorney with DC firm Covington & Burling, and Sarah Tucker, a partner at Chicago-based Sidley & Austin who represents banks, energy and commodity companies.
Among the executives who have contributed to Ocasio-Cortez's campaign are Evan Goldberg, founder of Oracle NetSuite, Claire Chouinard, daughter of the founder of Patagonia, and Porter Diehl, Bridgewater Associates deputy CEO.
Kiersten Pels, spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, criticized Ocasio-Cortez's fundraising methods, stating, Ocasio-Cortezs campaign is fueled by the very Hollywood celebrities, globalists, and D.C. insiders that she rails against. She brands herself as a grassroots politician, but she is bought and paid for by elites. Her $15 average donation is a lie meant to hide her hypocrisy and corruption, but the American people can see right through it.
In the first half of 2025, large contributions of more than $200 accounted for 10% of Ocasio-Cortez's total campaign funds, and nearly 30% in the 2024 election cycle. These contributions have helped Ocasio-Cortez raise $20 million, making her the highest-earning House member as of her October filing with the federal government.
Despite Ocasio-Cortez's claims that her average donation is around $15 to $17, many of her donors have been found to break up their large contributions into smaller increments. For instance, Manhattan doctor Tina Dobsevage made as many as 130 donations over the past year, with contributions as small as $1.25, totaling $2,100.
Several other donors, including Google engineers Ghuman Sundeep and Niccole Patten, and Kevin Ward, the CEO of the Aspen Center in Colorado, have also been found to make their contributions in small increments.
Ocasio-Cortez's office did not respond to The Post's request for comment on these findings. These revelations raise questions about the authenticity of Ocasio-Cortez's grassroots image and the transparency of her campaign's fundraising methods.
Login