House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) spoke out this week to say that the best fundraisers for the Republican Party may actually be House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and the self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

“The best way to raise money is just let Nancy Pelosi and AOC [Ocasio-Cortez] talk,” McCarthy said during an Axios interview on HBO about the record-breaking $103 million he raised throughout this election.

When asked why conservatives respond so “vociferously” to Ocasio-Cortez, McCarthy explained that she symbolizes the radical shift that is happening within the Democratic Party.

“She runs the floor,” the Republican lawmaker said. “That wing of the party, the socialist wing of the party, they are the new power of the Democratic party.”

When asked if Ocasio-Cortez is now more of a force than Pelosi, McCarthy did not hesitate to reply, “By far, by far. You watched on the floor. Legislation couldn’t be passed unless AOC agreed with it.”

This comes after Fox News reported that Pelosi acknowledged the rift between the moderate and progressive sides of the Democratic Party. However, she then refused multiple requests to specifically denounce socialism, something that Sen. Lindsey Graham (D-SC) pointed out should not be very hard to do.

“How hard is it to renounce socialism if you really don’t believe in it?” Graham tweeted. “The reason she can’t renounce it is because the mainstream of her party — deep in their soul — backs socialism.”

After moderate Democrats blamed progressives for their shrinking majority in the House, Ocasio-Cortez fired back by blasting the entire party. She complained to the New York Times that she and her fellow progressives are not treated well within the Democratic Party.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

“The last two years have been pretty hostile,” she lamented. “Externally, we’ve been winning. Externally, there’s been a ton of support, but internally, it’s been extremely hostile to anything that even smells progressive.”

Ocasio-Cortez and Pelosi have had public disagreements with one another in the past. If they keep this infighting up, perhaps they could end up being Republicans’ secret weapons after all.