Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) could run for president in 2028, according to several Democrat strategists.
In the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s crushing 2024 election victory against Kamala Harris, Democrats are scrambling to work out how to reposition and rebrand themselves for the next election, according to a report from The Hill.
“Just like in 2016, we’re a little lost and rudderless, and not quite sure what we want going forward,” one Democratic strategist acknowledged.
The report goes on to name AOC as one of several other Democrats that could become the party’s presidential candidate in 2028.
When Democrats talk about the future of the party, the 35-year-old New York congresswoman’s name always bubbles to the top.
Democrats have long been impressed with Ocasio-Cortez’s ability to “cut through the BS and tell it like it is,” the second Democratic strategist said.
“She’s somebody who can cut through the noise and doesn’t talk like Washington.”
Democrats say Ocasio-Cortez would be a magnet for young voters and would have little trouble using social media, podcasts and other online tools, as she has been doing since she was elected to Congress in 2018.
AOC made a name for herself as a far-left firebrand aligned with the political goals of socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) but has in recent months has backed more centrist candidates.
However, she still spouts radical far-left rhetoric — for example, she recently claimed in a TikTok video that President Trump will bring in a reign of authoritarianism and fascism across America.
NEW: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could run for president in 2028 according to The Hill.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 29, 2024
One Democrat strategist said their party is impressed with AOC’s ability to “cut through the BS and tell it like it is.”
“She’s somebody who can cut through the noise and doesn’t talk like… pic.twitter.com/3jvri2tinC
Democrats are worried her far-left record and rhetoric would hurt her in a general election.
“She and ‘the squad’ started pushing too hard, too fast,” the first strategist said. “D.C. doesn’t work that way. And our party doesn’t work that way. We need to get back to the basics.”
Other prospective names include Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and even VP Harris again.
Monica Crowley, former Assistant Treasury Secretary during the first Trump administration, explained on Friday that the election showed voters “had enough of the radical left,” but warned Republicans not to “underestimate” AOC’s appeal.
“It’s had enough of socialism, it’s had enough of cancel culture and wokeness and it rejected roundly all of those things. So I don’t think in four short years the country going to say we need more communism,” she said on “The Ingraham Angle.”
Mania Crowley Former Trump Assistant Treasurer Sec opines on AOC presidential run:
— Gary D (@KMGGaryde) November 30, 2024
“The country has had enough of the radical left. It’s had enough of socialism, it’s had enough of cancel culture and wolkness and rejection roundly all of those things. So i don’t think in four… pic.twitter.com/mxFYeNvl2U
“However just a word of warning to the Republicans. Do not underestimate AOC,” she continued. “She’s young, she’s vibrant, she’s attractive — I think she’s wrong on everything. But she does have real grassroots support. And all of the energy and activism in the Democrat Party remains with the revolutionary Left of which she is a part.”
“So every time the Republicans have underestimated the Democrats, we ended up with Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, so let’s not do it again in four years,” Crowley added.