BBG: Ex-Wall Street Banker Takes On AOC in New York Democratic Primary

A Wall Street veteran is mounting a long-shot challenge to US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York’s June 25 Democratic primary, marking the first intra-party battle she’s faced in four years.

Martin W. Dolan, 66, who spent 30 years working for Jefferies Financial Group Inc., Morgan Stanley and other financial firms, formally registered a campaign committee this week to run against Ocasio-Cortez. He now begins a month-long sprint to gather the necessary signatures to land a spot on the ballot for the 14th congressional district, which includes parts of northern Queens and the Bronx.

Dolan said he’s running because the congresswoman, the 34-year-old standard-bearer for the left wing of the Democratic Party, is too progressive, even for New York City. He said she’s sacrificed economic pragmatism at the altar of political ideology.

“I call it a referendum on common sense,” said Dolan, who’s harbored an interest in running for office since volunteering as a driver for former New York Representative Peter Peyser in the 1970s.

Anyone here ever work with him before?