There was a time I agreed with you. But we have to be realistic and consider current history, i.e. the last 30 years or so:
The far left controls:
Government at all levels, even increasingly the military
Most of the mainstream media
Most of the largest corporations
Most of public education
Most of scientific institutions
It has even infiltrated religious institutions to an alarming degree
The bottom line is that the message a huge chunk of American citizens gets is controlled and manipulated by the far left. Those Americans aren't on message boards like this one. They aren't on social media except to have their point of view reinforced. They don't watch Fox News or Newsmax or OANN. They are told and largely believe what the left selectively feeds them. They believe inflation is because of the GOP and Russia. They believe the greed and price gouging by the oil companies is why gas is so high.
They don't ever see or hear about the crisis of millions of illegals from more than 100 countries pouring across our southern border. They believe SJW & PC & 'woke' education in the schools is a good thing and reflects their values. They believe conservatives and Republicans and Patriots are greedy, racist, sexist, phobic, close minded, Nazi, devil incarnate.
AOC and those like her are heroes to such people. And they vote accordingly.