Members of the new Democrat-controlled Congress have yet to take their oaths of office, but some leftist organizations are already jockeying for the party’s preferred candidates for the next presidential elections.
One of these organizations is pushing for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run to replace President Donald Trump in 2028.
AOC. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
AOC. Image CNN Screengrab.
Calling themselves “Ready for AOC,” in reference to Ocasio-Cortez’s popular moniker, said that they are looking to connect with at least 10,000 community leaders around the country and get at least 1 million signatures signifying support for the progressive New York congresswoman.
An Unsolicited Movement
In its description on its website, the organization claims that “Right-wing extremists have captured the White House” and “Trump’s oligarchs are gutting our institutions and tearing our democracy apart,” calling for a different kind of candidate who, instead of widening the wealth gap in America, “will represent the needs of the working class instead of big tech billionaires.”
Ready for AOC also clarifies that its movement, launched recently after the midterm elections, is completely unsolicited and not being run in coordination with Ocasio-Cortez.
The organization’s bones are not new, however, as it is run by a number of prominent progressive strategists, including Ravi Sahai, who has worked for ultra-left Democrats such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Representative-elect Claire Valdez.
It is also modeled after similar organizations such as “Ready For Hillary,” another PAC that raised roughly $4 million two years before Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2016.
Ted Cruz Thinks Republicans Should Be Worried About an AOC Presidential Run
Many believe that given the results of the midterm elections, where Republicans suffered a resounding rout at the polls at both the federal and state levels, the field will be much more accommodating to an AOC presidential run.
Supporters say AOC’s youth and progressive values, along with her political experience and savvy, will be a strong selling point for voters, whom experts believe are tired of the right-wing political policies Trump and his cohorts are known for.
Even Republicans are worried — Texas Senator Ted Cruz says that AOC has a very real chance of winning a presidential election in 2028, and warned his colleagues in the party to not discount the New York congresswoman’s potential.
“Look, if she is the nominee, she could win,” Cruz said. The Texas senator also cautioned other members of the GOP to not buy into the idea that AOC would be “too extreme” to win a general election, pointing to the victories of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, both of whom experts said were unlikely to be elected, only for the two to prove naysayers wrong.
What are AOC’s Chances?
Should AOC decide to run, however, she will have her work cut out for her.
Research shows that the majority of the Democrats’ voting base tends to be more moderate than left-leaning, meaning ultra-left liberal agendas such as trans rights and abortion aren’t as high on voters’ priorities, which usually take secondary or tertiary importance to economic and standard of living issues.
A memorandum released by AOC’s office supports this, with “Trump-AOC” voters saying that they could vote for both candidates because of economic issues.
Some say that AOC — who said that she would decide her next political steps after the midterms — is quietly testing the waters to better determine her prospects. Some also speculate that she may also run for senator first, where her chances of being elected are stronger.
AOC is also not the lone presidential hopeful among Democrats for 2028 — others have floated names like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to head the Democrats’ 2028 ticket.
Not Universally Supported By Progressives
While others believe AOC is more or less a shoo-in for a 2028 presidential run, support within the more progressive sector of the Democratic Party is not as universal as it seems.
Reports indicate that the Democratic Socialists of America, the country’s most prominent socialist political group, are not fully aligned on whether AOC is the best choice for a presidential candidate.
One faction of the group, which has around 120,000 members, believes that AOC should be put forward as their preferred presidential candidate “from day one”, while others say they want to wait until the fall of next year to decide on whom they want to endorse.
About the Author: Tim Ramos
Tim Ramos has written for various publications, corporations, and organizations, covering everything from finance, politics, travel, entertainment, and sports – in Asia and the U.S. for more than 10 years.
