Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did not rule out a 2028 presidential bid when pressed by Fox News Digital but said her main focus right now is protecting Medicaid. (Fox News Digital)
Ocasio-Cortez's campaign account posted a video on X last week that invigorated those rumors as the four-term Democrat from New York City and a progressive leader proclaimed, "We are one."
'WE ARE ONE': AOC CAMPAIGN VIDEO SWIRLS 2028 PRESIDENTIAL RUMORS
"I'm a girl from the Bronx," Ocasio-Cortez said on a campaign-style stage in Idaho. "To be welcomed here in this state, all of us together, seeing our common cause, this is what this country is all about."
FiveThirtyEight founder and prominent pollster Nate Silver signaled earlier this month that Ocasio-Cortez is the leading Democrat to pick up the party's presidential nomination in 2028. In a draft 2028 pick with FiveThirtyEight's Galen Druke, Silver chose Ocasio-Cortez as his top choice to lead the Democratic Party's presidential ticket.
POLLSTER NATE SILVER CALLS OCASIO-CORTEZ MOST LIKELY TO BE 2028 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE
Gun violence survivor and activist David Hogg speaks at the March for our Lives rally against gun violence at the National Mall in Washington on June 11, 2022. (Getty Images)
Ocasio-Cortez raked in a massive $9.6 million over the past three months. The record-breaking fundraising haul was one of the biggest ever for any House lawmaker. Ocasio-Cortez's team highlighted that the fundraising came from 266,000 individual donors, with an average contribution of just $21.
"I cannot convey enough how grateful I am to the millions of people supporting us with your time, resources, & energy. Your support has allowed us to rally people together at record scale to organize their communities," Ocasio-Cortez emphasized in a social media post.
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Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo, a veteran of Sanders' 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, said that Ocasio-Cortez appears to be one of a small group of politicians in his party who "are test ballooning a potential 2028 run for the presidency" as Democrats search "for a path out of the wilderness."
"We're not really sure who or what it will be, but one of the pathways there is to drill down on economic populism. There are many people that occupy that lane and she is one of them. And there's clearly energy behind what her and Bernie Sanders did criss-crossing the country."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders participate in a stop on the ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour at the Dignity Health Arena, Theater in Bakersfield, California on April 15, 2025. (Aude Guerrucci/Reuters)
As Democrats struggle to land on a consistent message and search for a clear party leader following Republicans' November wins, there is an opportunity within the party to dominate the national Democratic narrative, Reed explained.
"Chaos loves a vacuum, and right now, there is a vacuum in leadership in the Democratic Party, and thus chaos is ruling the roost," Reed said.
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"As long as those two are out there, they're going to get attention because nobody else is doing anything. The house of cards will come crumbling down, especially when you've got two folks out there, Sen. Sanders and Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, holding themselves out as climate warriors as they jet around the country on private jets spewing untold carbon emissions into the air. That hypocrisy is one that's tough for a lot of folks' stomachs," Reed added.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/watch-aoc-leaves-door-open-2028-presidential-bid-campaign-buzz-soars