AOC Stokes 2028 Buzz Amid National Tour and Soaring Popularity
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., didn’t shut down growing speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run when questioned by Fox News Digital about a viral video that has ignited online chatter. “What people should be focused on right now,” she responded, “is that Republicans are actively trying to cut Medicaid—people’s healthcare is on the line. That’s where my attention is.”
While President Donald Trump and Republican leaders have denied any effort to slash Medicaid or Medicare benefits—insisting their aim is to eliminate waste and fraud allegedly uncovered by Elon Musk’s DOGE team—Ocasio-Cortez sees deeper, more urgent concerns.
“This isn’t about campaigns or politics,” she said on Capitol Hill. “It’s about protecting people. We’ve got individuals being jailed for exercising First Amendment rights, toddlers facing deportation, and vulnerable Americans losing Medicaid coverage. That’s what truly matters.”
Despite her pointed comments, administration officials have pushed back on claims of children being deported “into cells,” calling such descriptions exaggerated and misleading.
Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez has been making headlines on the road. Her “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has fueled even more speculation that the progressive firebrand is testing the waters for a national run. A recent video posted to her campaign’s X account added fuel to the fire. In it, she declared, “We are one,” while speaking from a campaign-style stage in Idaho. “I’m just a girl from the Bronx,” she said, “and to be welcomed here, united by a shared cause—this is what America is all about.”
That message seems to be resonating. Renowned pollster and FiveThirtyEight founder Nate Silver recently tapped Ocasio-Cortez as the frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination during a mock draft with colleague Galen Druke. “There’s a lot working in her favor,” Druke added. “She has broad appeal across the Democratic base.”
Social media has been abuzz with speculation. Political commentator Eric Daugherty declared, “Get ready, America. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will almost undoubtedly run for president in 2028.”
Back in New York, recent polling suggests her star is rising. A Siena College survey conducted April 14–16 found her favorability at 47%—an 8-point edge over Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, whose approval has slipped to 39%. The poll coincides with internal Democratic tensions, following Schumer’s controversial support for a GOP-backed budget deal that averted a government shutdown but sparked frustration among House Democrats.
The growing generational rift within the party has also surfaced in the wake of a $20 million investment by Leaders We Deserve, a youth-driven PAC founded by DNC Vice Chair David Hogg. The group is aiming to elect a younger wave of Democrats, but has faced resistance from establishment figures.
Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez is building a formidable campaign war chest. Her team announced a stunning $9.6 million raised in just three months—one of the largest quarterly fundraising totals ever for a House member. Powered by over 266,000 small-dollar donors, the campaign reported an average contribution of just $21.
“I can’t begin to express my gratitude to the millions backing our movement with your time, energy, and resources,” she shared on social media. “Together, we’ve mobilized on a historic scale to organize our communities.”
With momentum, money, and media attention converging, AOC’s next chapter is becoming harder to ignore.
