Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) endorsed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiTrump puts Supreme Court fight at center of Ohio rally CDC causes new storm by pulling coronavirus guidance Overnight Health Care: CDC pulls revised guidance on coronavirus | Government watchdog finds supply shortages are harming US response | As virus pummels US, Europe sees its own spike MORE (D-Calif.) for Speaker on Wednesday, saying that Pelosi "can count on my support."

"All the challenges to Leader Pelosi are coming from her right, in an apparent effort to make the party even more conservative and bent toward corporate interests," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter.

"Hard pass. So long as Leader Pelosi remains the most progressive candidate for Speaker, she can count on my support."

All the challenges to Leader Pelosi are coming from her right, in an apparent effort to make the party even more conservative and bent toward corporate interests.



Hard pass. So long as Leader Pelosi remains the most progressive candidate for Speaker, she can count on my support. https://t.co/yNVa8IorWY — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 21, 2018

The endorsement from Ocasio-Cortez, a high-profile incoming progressive Democrat, is the latest sign of broad momentum for Pelosi's bid to retake her Speaker position in the new Congress.

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Five incoming members had joined a total of 16 House Democrats in signing a letter to colleagues last week urging a change in leadership.

One of those lawmakers to sign onto the letter, Rep. Brian Higgins Brian HigginsBiden slams Trump for promoting conspiracy theory about man shoved by police Trump claims 75-year-old man shoved by Buffalo police could be part of 'set up' NY, NJ lawmakers call for more aid to help fight coronavirus MORE (D-N.Y.), reversed his opposition and endorsed Pelosi on Wednesday.

Rep. Marcia Fudge Marcia Louise FudgeThis week: House returns for pre-election sprint House to tackle funding, marijuana in September Honoring John Lewis's voting rights legacy MORE (D-Ohio), who was seen as potential challenger to Pelosi, also endorsed her Tuesday after the two met recently.

Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) in a primary earlier this year, hinted at her support for Pelosi over the weekend, saying that an anti-Pelosi movement may lead to more conservative leadership rather than a vision for change.

Her endorsement Wednesday also comes after she joined a group of protestors in Pelosi’s office demanding increased congressional action on climate change shortly after the midterm election earlier this month.

Although many painted the demonstration as Democratic infighting, Pelosi said her office was "inspired" by the energy and activism of youth activists and advocates.

Ocasio-Cortez followed up her initial tweet endorsing Pelosi on Wednesday by explaining that while leadership should eventually evolve, it “should reflect an actual, evolved mission; namely, an increased commitment to the middle [and] working class electorate that put us here.”

She also stressed that issues such as voting rights, health care, wages and climate change are more important than party leadership.