BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)....The rock star power of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who made her first visit to Buffalo in five years, could be found in both the lobby of Buffalo City Hall and in Mayor Sean Ryan's second floor press conference area - just outside of his office.
Ryan and Ocasio-Cortez stopping in city hall's lobby to admire the art deco-era art work when someone stopped and asked for a photo with the congresswoman best known by her initials AOC.
Then, a few minutes later, the impromptu press conference with AOC and Ryan not only drew the local media but also a team from CNN and a host of city hall workers too.
"You could just tell by how many people stopped by for the (press) conference," Ryan quipped.
Ocasio-Cortez's whirlwind Buffalo appearance included the private, closed-door meeting with Ryan and then spending a few hours training volunteers to encourage local voters to participate in November's key midterm and gubernatorial election.
Buffalo was the first stop of Ocasio-Cortez's barnstorming tour of upstate cities,
To Ocasio-Cortez her mission is to get voters back to the polls.
"It's the fault of government that it hasn't reached out to people," Ocasio-Cortez said, :We have to find a new way to inspire people back to the polls."
Republicans viewed Ocasio-Cortez's local visit with an wary eye.
"I don't think her values represent those of Western New York," said Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo, who represents such towns as West Seneca. "There's no reason for her to come to Western New York."
Ocasio-Cortez, 36, represents the 14th Congressional District that mostly covers New York City. She was first elected in 2019 and remains one of the youngest members of congress.
But, some political pundits said the congresswomen's ulterior motive was to fact find against the backdrop of a possible run for either a Senate seat or, possibly a presidential run.
Ocasio-Cortez said that is not the case.
"I just don't know," she said of any possible presidential or Senate run. "I really don't know."
Rather, she said her focus is about energizing disenchanted voters.
"We want to insure that Democrats win their seats and we can flip seats as well," Ocasio-Cortez said.
Ocasio-Cortez and Ryan worked together in 2021 to try an get fellow Democrat/DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) candidate India Walton elected mayor.
Ryan thinks AOC's visit was to "get a better understanding of the upstate economy."
As for her political future, Ryan said it was not discussed.
"I just hope she stays in her vocation of government," Ryan said. "I'm not going to pre-supposed her intentions."
Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez spent Thursday with Mayor Ryan and local voters
Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez spent Thursday with Mayor Ryan and local voters
