Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez said in an interview on the "Bill Press Show" that Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is "the future of the party."

Liberal host Bill Press brought up Ocasio-Cortez's defeat of Rep. Joe Crowley (D., N.Y.), the current chair of the House Democratic Caucus, to become the Democratic nominee for New York's 14th Congressional District.

"Twenty-eight years old, never ran for office before, big progressive. Calls herself a democratic socialist, actually, like Bernie Sanders did, she was a Bernie Sanders reporter," Press said.

He also mentioned Maryland's Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous, a progressive with a very liberal platform.

"What's this tell you about where the Democratic Party is going today?" Press asked the DNC chair.

Perez said his daughters both texted him about their excitement over Ocasio-Cortez's win.

"Because, she really, she represents the future of our party," Perez said, complimenting the self-described Democratic socialist for running a "spirited campaign."

Ocasio-Cortez is a member of the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists of America and her progressive platform includes calling for the abolishment of ICE, a federal jobs guarantee, and single-payer health care.

The 14th District is heavily Democratic and Ocasio-Cortez is expected to win the general election with little opposition.

Following her surprise win, she said on "The View" that there is a "huge difference" between socialism and Democratic socialism, but she was unable to clearly articulate that difference.

"Democratic socialism, and really what that boils down to me, is the basic belief that I believe that in a moral and wealthy America and a moral and modern America, no person should be too poor to live in this country," she said.