WASHINGTON — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a hero to many progressives and a prodigious fundraiser, is singling out a California Democrat as one of a handful of “bold swing district” House members worthy of her supporters’ campaign donations.

With call-outs on her website and on Twitter, the New York Democrat has helped Orange County Rep. Mike Levin raise more than $38,000 for a campaign that could be crucial to Democrats’ hopes of holding the House in November, the congresswoman’s campaign said. Ocasio-Cortez herself gave an additional $4,800 through her political action and campaign committees, Federal Election Commission records show.

Ocasio-Cortez said she plans to issue similar fundraising call-outs for another first-term California Democrat facing a potentially tough race in November, Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, to her 6.3 million Twitter followers and on her website.

Ocasio-Cortez is trying to capitalize on her prominence among progressives to extend her influence from deep-blue districts to purple ones such as those represented by Levin and Porter, both of whom flipped Republican-held seats in 2018. Although their districts could be considered swing seats, the two California Democrats are aligned with Ocasio-Cortez on some progressive issues.

In an interview, Ocasio-Cortez said her philosophy is, “When someone takes a tough vote, we really want to have their back.”

Levin handily defeated a Republican in 2018 to win the 49th Congressional District seat that had been held by GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, who didn’t run for re-election. It was one of seven California seats the Democrats flipped in the “blue wave” midterm elections that gave the party control of the House. Republicans are targeting several of those first-term Democrats this year in hopes of regaining the House.

Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, was formerly an environmental attorney who started a sustainable power company. He is a strong backer of the Green New Deal, a nonbinding resolution co-sponsored by Ocasio-Cortez that combines ambitious carbon emissions reduction goals with social justice provisions such as government-led job retraining for fossil-fuel workers.

Levin said he is grateful to Ocasio-Cortez, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco “and everybody else who helps us out.”

Ocasio-Cortez first asked her supporters in March 2019 to help swing-district Democrats targeted by the GOP. She directed them to a fundraising page on her website that sent contributions to the campaigns of Levin and a Connecticut Democrat, Rep. Jahana Hayes. The page also solicited funds for then-Rep. Katie Hill of Los Angeles County, who resigned in October amid allegations of improper relations with a former campaign aide and a congressional staffer. The website now indicates that money raised will be divided only between Hayes and Levin.

“Mike Levin and Jahana Hayes are two members, among others like Katie Porter and several others, that have exemplified just a huge degree of political courage in this Congress,” Ocasio-Cortez said in an interview.

“They won over Republican districts and they didn’t immediately turn around and give up on some of the most important fights of our time, whether it is health care or it’s criminal justice reform, whether it is a Green New Deal,” she added. “They are so committed to progressive values while holding formerly Republican seats that I think it is really important that we come out and support them as much as possible.”

A total of 3,500 people participated in Ocasio-Cortez’s call-out for swing district Democrats, her campaign said. The effort directed $35,656 to Hayes’ re-election effort.

Ocasio-Cortez is one of the top four fundraisers of Democrats in the House and is among the top 10 House fundraisers overall, according to Federal Election Commission reports. On Friday, she endorsed an all-female slate of progressive congressional candidates, including a few who are running against incumbent Democrats. One Californian was on the list, Georgette Gómez, who is running for the seat that Democratic Rep. Susan Davis is vacating in San Diego County.

Ocasio-Cortez’s support for candidates running primary challenges has put her at odds with the Democratic establishment, most notably its campaign arm, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The Friday announcement illustrates the other wing of her influence operation: boosting upstart progressive newcomers, while aiding incumbents in swing districts who share her policy vision.

For some members, the support comes as a welcome surprise. Hayes said she didn’t know about it until a reporter told her.

“That’s good,” Hayes said with a laugh, and set off to find Ocasio-Cortez in the House chamber to thank her. Ocasio-Cortez did not ask Hayes’ permission to collect money for her, Hayes said.

The re-election prospects for the Democratic incumbents Ocasio-Cortez has boosted range from 50-50 to likely, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

Ocasio-Cortez previously raised money for Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood, whose Illinois district is rated as a “toss-up” by Cook. Porter’s 45th Congressional District in Southern California is “lean Democrat,” while Levin’s district is “likely Democratic” and Hayes’ seat is “solid” for the party, Cook says. Porter, Levin and Underwood are on the National Republican Congressional Committee’s 2020 “target list.”

Porter raised $3.5 million last year for her re-election in 2019 and started 2020 with $2.7 million in campaign cash, Federal Election Commission records show. Porter has Republican challengers.

Levin raised $1.9 million and kicked off the new year with $1.3 million in his campaign coffers. He has one Republican challenger, San Juan Capistrano Mayor Brian Maryott, who trails him in fundraising.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Dustin Gardiner contributed to this report.

Emilie Munson is a Hearst Newspapers regional correspondent, covering New York and Connecticut politics. Email: emilie.munson@hearstdc.com Twitter: @emiliemunson