AOC for president in 2028? In a shock move, longtime Democratic strategist James Carville has openly backed Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, should she be selected as the party’s presidential candidate in 2028.
The former Clinton adviser told MSNBC’s The Beat program his intentions after being quizzed about a poll that claimed 26% of likely voters saw Ocasio-Cortez as the face of the Democratic Party.
While Carville dismissed the figures as “utterly useless,” he still vowed to back her should she win the nomination.
“If you win, you win,” Carville said with a shrug. “You are the leader of the Democratic Party.”
His statement marks a notable softening of tone.
For years, Carville has lambasted Ocasio-Cortez and her allies—at one point accusing progressives like her and Bernie Sanders of caring more about attacking Democrats than beating Republicans. Just weeks ago, he said on NewsNation that AOC “wants to run against other Democrats” and suggested she should split from the party entirely.
Ocasio-Cortez, never one to hold back, has clashed with Carville before.
After he accused the Democratic Party of being dominated by “preachy females,” she fired back on social media: “Maybe he should start a podcast about it. I hear men are really underrepresented in that space.”
Despite the friction, Carville’s recent remarks reflect an old political truth: the party generally falls in line once a nominee is chosen.
Ocasio-Cortez has not yet said she would be up for a presidential run, although her high-profile antics have led to intense speculation over her ambitions. This year her nationwide “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Sanders at the helm has helped boost her fame. She has just turned 35 years old, the age requirement for US presidential candidates.
While many vocal Democrats are keen on AOC, plenty of moderates are extremely wary about backing an open socialist with highly progressive social and economic views.
Still, the young politician’s name is already being floated alongside other contenders, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
But could she really translate her online popularity and penchant for making headlines into broad-based electability?
About the Author:
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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