From Axios: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and her team are positioning her to run for president or the U.S. Senate in 2028, according to people familiar with her operation.
Why it matters: Ocasio-Cortez’s 2028 decision could shake up the presidential race or the Senate’s leadership. A fellow New Yorker, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, 74, is up for re-election in 2028.
A Senate race between Schumer and Ocasio-Cortez, 35, would be a generational clash pitting the Democratic Party’s leading traditionalist against its star insurgent progressive.
State of play: This year, Ocasio-Cortez — widely known as AOC — has campaigned across the country and in parts of New York State far from her Bronx and Queens district, all while investing millions to grow her already formidable online presence.
Schumer has not yet confirmed whether or not he plans to run for re-election in 2028, so Ocasio-Cortez could either run against him, or run for his seat if he retires.
The Democrat socialist has also tested the waters for a nationwide campaign, as she jointed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour earlier this year in multiple cities across the nation.
Sanders, also a socialist, is reportedly one of AOC’s advisors.
Ocasio-Cortez won her seat in U.S. Congress in 2018 by defeating a longtime incumbent Democrat in the primary while running unapologetically as a far-left progressive. She has played a major role in helping pull the Democrat Party farther left by supporting other young progressives to run for office and push out more moderate Democrats.
Axios notes that she has supported radical left policies such as Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Axios explains that AOC has been building her war chest, spending more on digital advertising than almost any other politician in 2025, and the donations are pouring in.
She has also been growing her social media presence in record-breaking numbers across all platforms, amassing over 36.7 million followers overall.
Reacting to the Axios report, lawyer and political analyst Ford O’Connell warned, “Keep an eye on this. It pains me to say this, but should AOC get the 2028 Dem nomination, she would be a lot tougher to defeat than many Republicans think.”
Podcast host Clay Travis wrote, “AOC is gearing up to run for president in 2028 per @axios. I think she’s wrong on virtually every issue — and not sure how smart she is — but she has a massive social media platform. Curious if Democrats are willing to pick a woman after Hillary & Kamala losses.”
AOC is gearing up to run for president in 2028 per @axios. I think she’s wrong on virtually every issue — and not sure how smart she is — but she has a massive social media platform. Curious if Democrats are willing to pick a woman after Hillary & Kamala losses. pic.twitter.com/ShUNhDertZ
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 19, 2025
JUST IN: AOC eyes 2028 presidential run
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and her team are positioning her to run for president or the U.S. Senate in 2028, according to people familiar with her operation – Axios https://t.co/qutFsTN9VM pic.twitter.com/B1R4XwMQnp
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) September 19, 2025
NEW: AOC and her team are positioning her to run for president or the Senate in 2028, according to people familiar with her operation. https://t.co/RPdYujb0To
— Axios (@axios) September 19, 2025
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