Ocasio-Cortez Joins Campaign Rally for Tennessee House Candidate in Memphis

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at a campaign rally in Memphis, Tennessee, on July 17, 2026, for Democratic U.S. House candidate Justin Pearson, who serves as a Tennessee state representative. Fox News reported that Ocasio-Cortez appeared on stage with Reps.

Ayanna Pressley, Summer Lee and Pearson. She told attendees the country could not afford to leave Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia or South Carolina behind. Ocasio-Cortez added that she and Pressley had visited Montgomery, Alabama, about a month or two earlier and stated it was time for the North to roll up to the South.

Social media users posted reactions to the speech. Actor Michael Rapaport wrote that Ocasio-Cortez sounded like a southern Baptist preacher while in Memphis. Conservative communications strategist Steve Guest said she was developing an accent similar to those used by Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.

Another user accused her of putting on a fake accent for a predominantly black audience.