Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made headlines on June 26, 2018, after defeating 20-year incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley (N.Y.) in the Democratic primary.

But the story behind her campaign starts with the progressive political action groups Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress.

Ocasio-Cortezs name was just one of thousands the organizations received in 2016 as part of a massive online call for nominations. Her meteoric rise shocked everyone involved, including Justice Democrats Executive Director Alexandra Rojas , who ran the field program for the last two months of Ocasio-Cortezs campaign.

If you asked me two years ago if I would be going back and forth all over the country, and then sleeping on the floor for a month and a half for Alexandrias race, I wouldnt believe you, Rojas said.