Republican Candidate Hissenagi Draws on His War-Torn Past

A Republican urban property developer believes that his experiences during the war in Kosovo will be key in his upcoming challenge against Democratic Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“As a young child, I had to navigate my way through the tough Bronx neighborhood,” said Hissenagi, a 42-year-old Albanian immigrant and president of DCG New York, a construction company.

“I could have headed down a very different path, but through hard work and perseverance, I achieved my American dreams—a successful business, a beautiful family, and a commitment to service,” he added.

Growing up on a farm in Kosovo, Hissenagi witnessed the war and the breakup of Yugoslavia. He feels his past equips him to represent the diverse 14th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens filled with immigrants.

“Just imagine a narrative that resonates throughout NY-14—immigrants, dreamers like me,” he said. “It all began back in 1982 on a dusty Kosovo farm.”

Reflecting on his childhood, he remarked, “We were 36 family members crammed into three old homes, filled with laughter and my grandmother’s cooking. My parents worked hard in the factories of the old Yugoslav regime to build a life that was both tough and beautiful.”

“That was my starting point,” Hissenagi recounted.

“Then came 1991. The dictator’s grip suffocated our lives, and my family and I ended up in the Bronx, with nothing but a suitcase full of hope.”

He later earned an associate degree from SUNY Westchester Community College.

“I had to rebuild from the ground up and discovered a passion for real estate. I’ve built homes, restaurants, and buildings across the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, hiring hundreds along the way and turning this city into my canvas,” he explained.

Hissenagi also reflected on personal tragedies, such as recovering from the Great Recession in 2008 and dealing with the loss of his sister and a close family member to tragic circumstances.

He described the American Dream as “living well, but not in AOC’s New York.” His campaign centers on making streets safer, reforming the immigration system, and improving the district’s infrastructure, criticizing Ocasio-Cortez for what he sees as her hypocrisy.

“While she jets around preaching socialism, people in the 14th District are struggling,” Hissenagi asserted.

He concluded by emphasizing that he advocates for a country where the voices of all, not just the privileged elites, are heard. “Over half of the people in District 14 are immigrants just like me, and together, we can win,” he said.

Ocasio-Cortez, now 35, is running for re-election to her fifth term in a district that strongly leans Democratic.

Currently, she is boosted by the recent victory of fellow Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani in the Democratic primary, who has become a strong contender for the city hall general election.

Her name is also being considered for a future Senate run against Chuck Schumer in 2028, or even for a presidential bid.