"You have given this country hope, you have given this country proof that when you knock on your neighbor's door, when you come to them with love, when you let them know that no matter your stance, you are there for them — that we can make change," Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said after her historic win in the primaries against ten-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley.

Regardless of where your politics and beliefs lie, Ocasio-Cortez's win is not only confirmation that our voters will not succumb to the status quo anymore but also proof in the power of grassroots efforts.

I personally don't think it was her more liberal policies that won over New York but instead her dedication to her supporters by protesting alongside them at an ICE detention center in Texas or actually showing up to debates, unlike Rep. Crowley.

Since civil rights are increasingly under attack by the current administration, more and more Americans are beginning to engage a more active role in politics whether its voting or activist efforts. And they're starting to expect their representatives to do the same, especially young activists. Whether its MSD students pushing for better gun regulations or the Black Lives Matter movements fighting for their lives, more young people not only care about being active and informed citizens but are also expecting their elected representatives to not continue spouting that they want to help us but instead actively work towards doing so.

I believe that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not an outlier this midterm season but will soon be a part of the majority who are voted in because they are directly speaking to American people. If incumbents stand a chance they must do better at listening to young people and people of color because stagnancy is not an option anymore.