By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-07-20 17:18:50 | Updated at 2026-08-06 22:14:50
2 weeks ago
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was mocked on social media for an accent she appeared to use while speaking at a Memphis, Tennessee, rally.
'We cannot afford to leave Tennessee behind,' she said on Friday while stumping for Democratic House candidate Justin Pearson.
She proclaimed that Democrats should not abandon traditionally conservative southern states, similarly to how ex-President Barack Obama recruited voters in traditionally GOP strongholds during his swing to victory.
'We cannot afford to leave Kentucky behind, Alabama behind, Mississippi behind, Georgia behind, South Carolina behind,' she said as viewers pointed out a slight southern twinge to her delivery.
Her recent campaign trail stops in Tennessee and Michigan - a crucial swing state - are raising eyebrows ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
Despite persistent speculation, AOC has been close-mouthed about the possibility of a presidential run. But she hasn't ruled a bid out.
'I mean, I can't say that I've ruled it out,' the 36-year-old said this weekend in an interview with POLITICO.
Social media users claimed Ocasio-Cortez, who is from New York City, was trying to sound southern herself as she appeals to voters.
Ocasio-Cortez was criticized for her remarks at a rally last Friday for congressional candidate Justin J. Pearson, a Tennessee state representative
Pictured here at a Saturday event with Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Ocasio-Cortez could be gearing up for a 2028 presidential run
Former VP Kamala Harris, pictured last November, has faced accent-switching criticisms as well
Conservatives compared Ocasio-Cortez's apparent southern accent ploy to tactics used by past Democratic presidential candidates.
'Hillary Clinton developed an accent,' communications strategist Steve Guest wrote on X. 'Kamala Harris developed an accent. AOC is developing an accent. It's all patronizing.'
Harris was mocked more than once for appearing to mimic her audience's dialect, including in a speech in September 2024 to the Congressional Black Caucus.
Conservative X account End Wokeness posted a video of Harris's speech, declaring that she had pulled out 'a new accent.'
Were Ocasio-Cortez to run for President, she could enjoy the support of liberal elements within the Democratic Party.
But she will be staunchly opposed by conservatives, including others who criticized her apparent accent.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on X that he thought Ocasio-Cortez's change in dialect was worse than Hillary Clinton's.
Clinton has faced code-switching criticisms on multiple occasions as well, including at a Tennessee rally in 2015.
'That puts Hillary's fake accent to shame in terms of pure absurdity,' DeSantis wrote in reply to a clip of Ocasio-Cortez's Friday speech.
Actor Michael Rapaport, who has expressed an intention of running for New York City mayor, joined in the criticism.
He posted a video of the incriminating clip, captioning it, 'AOC, from the "Bronx" sounding like a southern Baptist preacher while in Memphis.'
Rapaport followed up a day later by posting a clip of AOC at her next rally, this time in Michigan, accusing her of switching to a 'Midwestern twang.'
Ocasio-Cortez's campaign office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
