Born in the Bronx, she moved to Yorktown at age five but has built much of her political image around her Bronx roots, often referencing them in speeches and online.
Critics, including New York State Assemblyman Matt Slater, argue she downplays her comfortable suburban upbringing, while former classmates remember her as “Sandy” from Yorktown High School. A former teacher praised her intelligence and science achievements, but the renewed debate was fueled by Slater posting her yearbook photo, which went viral. Ocasio-Cortez responded on X, saying she’s proud of her background, that her mother worked as a house cleaner, and that growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown gave her firsthand insight into inequality, which drives her passion for change. For some in her old hometown, however, the question remains whether she is truly the Bronx firebrand she claims to be or simply “Sandy” from Westchester.
