Republican John Cummings on Friday announced plans to challenge Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid MORE (D-N.Y.) for her seat next year.

Cummings said in an interview with the New York Post that he was inspired to launch his own congressional bid by Ocasio-Cortez's long shot run last year.

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“But to just come from the outside and take somebody on is really difficult,” Cummings, a 59-year-old civics teacher and former police officer, told the Post.

“It was pointed out to me by my students that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pretty much made my excuse — and I’ll use their quotes — ‘a lame one,’ ” he added of the former bartender.

Cummings said he plans to file his paperwork Friday, though the Federal Elections Commission website did not yet show any campaign documents.

The Bronx Republican Party expressed confidence in Cummings’s campaign, saying he would present an alternative to the democratic socialist incumbent.

“He will be able to connect with the real New Yorkers in the Bronx and Queens who AOC takes for granted,” said Bronx County Republican Chairman Mike Rendino.

Cummings said he’s a “small-government guy” who will promote choice on issues including education, a free-market economy and infrastructure improvements.

“I’m not personally invested in this to go after [Ocasio-Cortez],” he said adding, “That’s not my thing. I just think that people need common-sense representation.”

Cummings is the second Republican to announce a challenge to Ocasio-Cortez, joining Ruth Papazian.

Regardless of who eventually wins the GOP’s congressional nomination, Ocasio-Cortez will enter the race with a huge advantage in a district that Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonFox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio Trump, Biden court Black business owners in final election sprint The power of incumbency: How Trump is using the Oval Office to win reelection MORE carried over President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE by nearly 58 points in 2016.

The freshman Democrat amassed a gargantuan social media following and has emerged as one of the most vocal spokeswoman for a litany of progressive causes, including immigration reform, universal health care and the Green New Deal.