Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's political future has remained a topic of discussion within the left wing — and there's increasing speculation that she could be set for a collision course with Democrats' top leader in Congress. The progressive rock star says she's weighing what to do next, whether it be a 2028 presidential run or a bid for the seat currently held by Sen. Chuck Schumer, a fellow Democrat and New Yorker.
"I know there is a lot of speculation about what I will decide to do in 2028. I get asked about it nearly every interview and event," Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a recent fundraising email to supporters. The 36-year-old lawmaker with a massive social media footprint said in a recent New York Times interview that her decision, which could happen sometime after this year's midterm elections, would come down to answering the question, "Where can I do the most good?" If she decides on a statewide rather than a national run, it could set up a titanic Democratic Party and generational battle between her and the soon-to-be 76-year-old Schumer, who was first elected to Congress nearly a half century ago and has served in the Senate since 1999.
Ocasio-Cortez, in her interview, made clear that her decision about 2028 would not be dictated by someone else. "I don’t think that my decisions would come down to deference," she said. Meanwhile, a campaign swing the past few days throughout upstate New York by Ocasio-Cortez raised some eyebrows.
While the trip was aimed at boosting fellow Democrats on the ballot in this year's elections, it sparked speculation that it was also a move by Ocasio-Cortez to build relationships far from her base in New York City. Schumer has left his 2028 plans open and has not announced whether he’ll run for yet another term. When asked about re-election, he's repeatedly said his "first focus is winning in 2026, getting back the Senate in 2026." Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer's office regarding his thinking on a potential 2028 re-election run, but didn't receive a response by the time this story was published.
DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB But a potential intra-party clash between Ocasio-Cortez and Schumer may never materialize, according to speculation from plugged-in Democratic strategists familiar with the New York State political landscape, who doubt Schumer will seek re-election even if his party wins back the Senate majority in November's midterms. "Everyone has an expiration date," said one strategist, who like the others asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely. And referring to Ocasio-Cortez, the strategist told Fox News Digital, "I think she’s in a good position to win statewide." Another operative, pointing to Schumer, speculated, "I think Schumer wants to go out on top and with a good legacy and one way to do that is to hand the reins over to this inspiring generational leader.
At the same time, New York politics are insane and there are lots of people gunning for that spot and he may feel like he can’t do that." "He’s always been pretty smart when it came to her," the operative noted. "As other Dems were still warming to her ….he was one of the first members of the New York delegation to be very welcoming and thoughtful and worked with her on legislation during COVID." Schumer's approval ratings among New York voters is deep into negative territory at 36%-54% according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted Sept. 17-20. The senator's favorable ratings were also underwater, at 34%-51%.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
