“I live in Queens and I see the socialist, far-left narrative that, quite frankly, is dangerous to America and we have to put a stop to it,” Murray said during an appearance on Fox & Friends Monday morning.
Murray, a black Jamaican-born New York City Republican, announced in July that she’d be running against the freshman congresswoman in 2020. In her first campaign video, the 38-year-old businesswoman accused Ocasio-Cortez of caring more about being in the spotlight than serving her constituents.
During her interview with Fox News, Murray discussed migrating to the United States with her family, being raised in Queens and going to public school. In 2004, she created up her own television company called The Esemel Group, which aimed to address the lack of diversity in the media.
“I do believe I am living the American dream. That is why I’m running for Congress,” she said.
Murray also criticized Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. Ocasio-Cortez officially endorsed Sanders during his rally at Long Island City’s Queensbridge Park on Saturday.
“It wasn’t until I heard of a man by the name of Bernie Sanders that I began to question and assert and recognize my inherent value as a human being,” she told the crowd. “Bernie Sanders fought for us.”
Murray also asserted that Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders’ signature policies like Medicare-for-All and free public college tuition will “keep the government’s hands in the pockets of everyday Americans.”
Murray is one of four Republicans challenging Ocasio-Cortez. Other candidates include former NYPD officer John Cummings, construction contractor Miguel Hernandez, journalist Ruth Papazian and entrepreneur Antoine Tucker. All of these GOP challengers are likely to face an uphill battle since Ocasio-Cortez won the congressional district in 2018 with 78 percent of the vote.
“Great to join @FoxNews this am to discuss AOC’s Bernie Sanders endorsement. Yet again, AOC prioritizes socialism & the limelight over the people of Queens & the Bronx. We deserve better,” Murray tweeted after the segment aired.
