The Bronx Progressives hosted a panel discussion Wednesday in an effort to engage voters ahead of New York’s state primary elections.

Headlining the event was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who won what has been called the biggest upset victory in the 2018 midterm election season.

The self-described Democratic Socialist rallied a room full of people alongside City Councilman Jumaane Williams and Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout, who are both on the primary ballot. Williams is running for lieutenant governor alongside gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon. Teachout is running for attorney general of New York.

Organizers are touting that grassroots organizations are not funded by corporate dollars. Attendees broke into groups to discuss how the community can take the lead in government.

The Bronx Progressives wanted to know what issues are affecting communities, keeping a two-way line of communication open. Organizers say Ocasio-Cortez demonstrated what grassroots politics can do. The 28-year-old supports progressive policies like tuition-free public college, Medicare for all and gun control reform.

Ocasio-Cortez will face Republican Anthony Pappas in the Nov. 6 general election.

Williams is running for lieutenant governor of New York, and Teachout is running for attorney general of New York. They're in the primary election on Sept. 13.