This Fundraiser is for the Birds
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a prominent member of the “Squad,” has found a controversial way to merge her Thanksgiving turkey giveaway with her re-election efforts, leading to criticism from various quarters.
“Thanksgiving is only two weeks away,” she mentioned in an email appeal last week. “Would you consider donating $5 or so today to help spread some holiday joy to families in New York City this year?”
However, clicking the link leads directly to a campaign fundraising page. Here, donors are prompted to make one-time or recurring monthly donations through ActBlue.
Once an amount is selected, it’s noted that the costs for the appeal were “paid by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on behalf of Congress,” with a warning that donations won’t qualify as tax-deductible contributions.
Sincere or not, AOC has donated hundreds of turkeys since 2019, but amid speculation about her potential Senate bid in 2028 or even a presidential run, she’s altered her usual fundraising approach.
This year, rather than directing funds to community organizations for turkey drives, she is asking supporters to donate to her campaign, which will then allocate resources to three local charities.
“Campaigns shouldn’t be a pass-through for charity,” argued former City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli. “If she raises enough for a million turkeys, what happens? Would she use most of it for her campaign and just toss a few turkeys out on the street?”
City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens), who organized his own turkey drive without public donations, echoed this sentiment. He remarked, “People like AOC make extravagant promises but seem to benefit financially under the guise of community aid.”
This situation, critics contend, blurs ethical lines. AOC is among only two New York City politicians who use campaign funds for turkey drives, with Rep. Gregory Meeks being the other. Interestingly, Meeks has been labeled one of the most corrupt members of Congress multiple times.
In contrast, many local charities coordinate turkey giveaways through partnerships with grocery stores and local businesses. For example, Councilwoman Sandra Ung (D-Flushing) partnered with local sponsors for her turkey drive last year.
Additionally, just days before Thanksgiving, AOC’s campaign spent over $13,000 at a Bronx grocery store, presumably for turkeys.
“It’s a pitch to give money under the guise of helping people, which mainly benefits her,” asserted Paul Kamenar from the National Law and Policy Center. He suggested the turkey giveaway could be a scheme to solicit donations for her campaign.
The Federal Election Commission informed that there’s no requirement for politicians soliciting donations for community groups to disclose how much they raise or how those funds are utilized. As such, it’s unclear how much actually translates into turkeys or whether it’s mainly for her campaign.
AOC’s camp did not clarify why the approach was modified this year. Her campaign manager stated that they set a fundraising goal, and funds exceeding that would go toward ordering more turkeys.
AOC publicly celebrated her fundraising efforts in a recent Instagram video, discussing her aim to distribute over 1,600 turkeys and stating they raised an additional $20,000 for local food pantries.
However, specifics about past turkey distributions seem ambiguous. Her recent campaign pitch indicated plans to distribute 600 turkeys in 2024, though numbers have varied each year.
The Republican National Committee has accused Ocasio-Cortez of committing fraud while masquerading as charitable, asserting that the way she labels campaign fundraisers obscures the intent.
