Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 35-year-old progressive firebrand from New York, is reportedly weighing two high-stakes options for her political future: a bid for the U.S. presidency or a challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2028. According to multiple reports from Axios, The Independent, Newsmax, and News18, Ocasio-Cortez and her team are actively building the infrastructure necessary to pursue either path, a move that could reshape the Democratic Party’s leadership and direction for years to come.
Ocasio-Cortez, who shot to national prominence after her 2018 primary upset over a long-serving Democratic incumbent, has become one of the most recognizable figures in American politics. Since being elected to represent New York’s 14th congressional district—which covers parts of the Bronx and Queens—in 2019, she’s cultivated a devoted following among young voters and the party’s progressive base. Her appeal, according to Axios, is rooted in her unapologetically left-wing stances, including support for Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In 2025, Ocasio-Cortez’s political operation has gone into overdrive. She’s embarked on a nationwide “Fighting Oligarchy” tour alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, held town halls across upstate New York, and poured millions into expanding her social media and donor networks. “Her team has spent more on digital advertising than almost any other politician in 2025, and as a result, they have brought in hundreds of thousands of new small-dollar donations,” Kyle Tharp, author of the media and politics newsletter Chaotic Era, told Axios. Ocasio-Cortez now boasts 36.7 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, X, and Facebook—far outpacing Schumer and most other potential 2028 contenders.
Her digital prowess isn’t just a vanity metric; it translates directly into grassroots fundraising muscle. In 2025 alone, Ocasio-Cortez has raised $15 million, according to The Independent. Her operation has also recruited several former senior advisers to Sanders, whose two insurgent presidential campaigns galvanized the left and shifted the party’s policy debates. “She has a supporter base that, in many ways, has a larger potential width than Bernie’s. She has been in the glare of the spotlight from day one and has the national campaigning experience a lot of other potential candidates are now trying to get,” said Ari Rabin-Havt, a longtime Sanders aide, to Axios. “It would be the height of arrogance to assume she couldn’t win the 2028 nomination.”
Yet, Ocasio-Cortez faces stiff competition if she chooses to pursue the White House. According to a RealClearPolitics average of surveys conducted between July 13 and September 2, 2025, she stands at about 10% support among Democratic primary voters. California Governor Gavin Newsom leads the pack with 20%, followed by former Vice President Kamala Harris at 19%, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 15%. Individual polls show Ocasio-Cortez fluctuating between 4% and 19%, but she generally trails the more established names. As Newsmax points out, these numbers underscore the uphill battle she would face in a crowded and competitive field.
Despite the polling, Ocasio-Cortez’s presence in the race could be significant even if she doesn’t expect to win. Allies and observers note that, much like Sanders in 2016, a symbolic run could ensure that the Democratic Party’s progressive wing has a voice in the primary. “Some close allies believe that even if Ocasio-Cortez doesn't think she could win, she may want to run for the White House to ensure that the Democratic Party's progressive wing is represented in the primary,” Axios reported. This sentiment was echoed by Democratic Representative Greg Casar of Texas, who told Politico, “She really thinks about what’s right for the movement.”
Alternatively, Ocasio-Cortez could set her sights on the U.S. Senate, challenging Chuck Schumer, the 74-year-old Senate Minority Leader who has represented New York since 1999 and secured a fifth term in 2022. A contest between Schumer and Ocasio-Cortez would be nothing short of a generational clash, pitting the party’s leading traditionalist against its most prominent insurgent. As Axios observed, “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.”
Ocasio-Cortez has already begun laying the groundwork for a statewide campaign. She’s held a series of town halls in upstate New York, a region far outside her home district, in an effort to broaden her appeal. At one event in Plattsburgh this summer, she declared, “Plattsburgh, we are here because every town, every city, every neighborhood in this state matters. Every corner matters. No one deserves to be ignored.” Her efforts to connect with voters beyond the Bronx and Queens could prove pivotal if she decides to run for Senate, given New York’s vast and diverse electorate.
Should she choose the Senate route, Ocasio-Cortez would likely face a formidable incumbent. Schumer has not confirmed whether he will run for re-election in 2028, but he remains a powerful figure in the party. He’s also faced criticism from progressives, including Ocasio-Cortez herself, for his perceived reluctance to endorse left-wing candidates and for siding with Republicans on key issues—such as a recent spending bill to keep the government open. Polling, however, shows a hunger among Democratic voters for generational change, with many eager to see younger lawmakers elevated to leadership positions.
Ocasio-Cortez has not publicly confirmed her intentions, and her office has declined to comment on her political future. Still, her actions and her team’s strategic moves suggest that a major announcement could be on the horizon. According to News18, her operation is “building infrastructure that would allow her to choose between challenging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for his New York seat or making a historic bid for the White House.”
As the Democratic Party looks to its next generation of leaders, Ocasio-Cortez’s decision—whether to run for president, seek a Senate seat, or chart another path—will be closely watched by allies, rivals, and voters alike. Her rapid rise, formidable digital operation, and passionate base have already made her a force within the party. Whether she can translate that energy into a successful statewide or national campaign remains to be seen, but her influence on the direction of Democratic politics is undeniable.
With the 2028 election cycle still years away, Ocasio-Cortez’s next move is a subject of intense speculation and anticipation. Whatever she decides, the impact of her decision is sure to reverberate throughout the Democratic Party and beyond.
