ORLANDO, Fla. _ U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, a Florida Republican candidate for governor, went off over the weekend on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a liberal Democrat who surprisingly won a Bronx district primary last month.
"You look at this girl Ocasio-Cortez, or whatever she is, I mean, she's in a totally different universe," he said to laughs. "It's basically socialism wrapped in ignorance."
DeSantis made the remarks at a political rally in Orange Park, according to the Huffington Post, which broke the story.
DeSantis went on to criticize her for her views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
David Vasquez, a spokesman for DeSantis' campaign, told the Huffington Post that the congressman's comments were "expanding on the importance of education" and that teaching students more about the Constitution might "prevent more socialists like Ocasio-Cortez calling for 'free' everything."
Vasquez did not say why DeSantis called Ocasio-Cortez "this girl."
Ocasio-Cortez, 28, is a self-proclaimed socialist who if elected in the fall would become the youngest woman ever to serve in Congress.
She shot back at DeSantis on Twitter, writing, "Rep DeSantis, it seems you're confused as to 'whatever I am.' I am a Puerto Rican woman. It's strange you don't know what that is, given that ... 75,000 Puerto Ricans have relocated to Florida in the 10 mos since Maria. But I'm sure these new FL voters appreciate your comments!"
