Something's Fishy About That Turkey: Donations To AOC's Food Drive Go Straight To Her Campaign

Posted • November 23, 2025: Thanksgiving food drives are in full swing across he country, and politicians have been lining up to take part. Food banks, churches, and other charitable organizations are raising money to provide turkeys and other holiday staples to needy families who may otherwise not have the means to provide a Thanksgiving meal. It's a slam-dunk PR opportunity for the political class. A fundraising link to the local food bank on your official website, along with a few pictures of you, selflessly giving your time to hand out Thanksgiving meals to those less fortunate. Make sure there are a few pics of you with the kids. Nothing tugs at constituents' heartstrings more than helping hungry children. As public relations events go, this one is a no-brainer. Unless you're a no-good, low-down, money-grubbing leftist who tries to profit off the backs of those poor, hungry children.

New York House Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has taken part in such food drives for several years, has found herself in some hot water after it was discovered that money that she's been raising for turkeys is going directly into her campaign coffers. According to the article in the New York Post, AOC sent an email soliciting donations to buy turkeys, but the money raised went directly into her campaign accounts. —— “This fundraiser is for the birds. Power-hungry “Squad” member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) cooked up a new way to have her cake and eat it too this Thanksgiving – by tying her annual turkey giveaway to her massive reelection campaign enterprise. And critics are crying fowl. “Thanksgiving is two weeks away,” the self-described “Bronx girl” wrote in an email pitch last week. “Will you chip in $5 or anything you can today to help us bring the joy of the holiday season into homes around NYC this year?” But clicking on the contribution link sends people directly to a campaign fundraising page operated by ActBlue, where donors are prompted to make a one-time or recurring monthly donation.”

Poultry puns aside, there's something fishy going on here. Contributors are notified that their donations to AOC for Congress are not tax-deductible charitable donations. Donations made directly to a nonprofit food bank are tax-deductible. If nothing else, the optics are terrible. One would think AOC, who has mastered the art of the grift, would know better, and the shady setup is drawing criticism from both sides of the aisle. […] City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) — who’s hosted turkey drives of his own without seeking donations from the public — agreed. “Socialists like AOC and Mamdani love to promise everything for free, but somehow it always ends with them shaking down working people under the guise of community good will,” he told The Post. “It is a typical bait and switch, pretending to be for the people while quietly pillaging them for every dollar they can get.” (…)

• More at: Twitchy - Something's Fishy About That Turkey: Donations to AOC's Food Drive Go to Her Campaign
https://twitchy.com/eric-v/2025/11/23/something-about-that-turkey-smells-fishy-donations-to-aocs-food-drive-go-to-her-campaign-n2422019
New York Post: AOC email seeks donations for turkey giveaway — but money goes straight to her campaign coffers
https://nypost.com/2025/11/22/us-news/aoc-email-seeks-donations-for-turkey-giveaway-but-money-goes-straight-to-her-campaign-coffers/
PJ Media: AOC Scams Donors with Shady Turkey Drive Scheme
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/11/23/aoc-scams-donors-with-turkey-drive-scheme-n4946311