It’s apparent to both her friends and enemies — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is different from the corporate politicians we’ve grown used to. Before even taking office, Ocasio-Cortez has already sparked a membership surge in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), floated the idea of a new congressional sub-caucus, promoted civil disobedience inside of Nancy Pelosi’s office, and opposed Amazon’s push for a government-subsidized headquarters in Queens. As she put it in a tweet advocating a Green New Deal and a federal jobs guarantee, it’s well past time that elected officials “push the limits of what’s possible.”

In a context marked by deep popular anger at the status quo, these are encouraging signs. Bernie Sanders, Rashida Tlaib, Julia Salazar, and other recently elected socialists seem poised to play a major role reviving a working-class left in the United States.

The political possibilities are immense, but so are the pressures from above. Moderating constraints on Ocasio-Cortez will significantly increase over time and it’s not yet clear how far she is prepared to break from the norms, politics, and structures of the Democratic Party. Alongside more insurgent moves, she has also extended some olive branches to the party establishment, such as pledging her support for Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker.