An internal strategy memo from the campaign committee of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) positions the lawmaker as a formidable national political force who has evolved from a progressive firebrand into one of the Democratic Party's most effective messengers for working-class voters. The five-page document, distributed to key allies, does not mention a potential 2028 presidential or Senate run.
Following President Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, the memo states that Ocasio-Cortez initiated a nationwide effort to rebuild the Democratic Party around economic populism and establish a broad movement for working families. "Over the past two years, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has built a record of success that extends beyond her own electoral victories," the memo reads. "The Congresswoman has emerged as one of the most powerful endorsements in the United States and New York State specifically. Candidates from rural districts and battleground seats see her as an asset for their general election campaigns."
The memo highlights Ocasio-Cortez's fundraising capabilities, noting more than 2 million contributions totaling $38 million, with an average donation of $17.56. It also states that over $3 million has been channeled to other Democratic candidates and state parties, claiming her fundraising operation rivals that of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Discussions with "Trump-AOC" split-ticket voters in her New York district following the 2024 election informed Ocasio-Cortez's strategy, according to the document. These voters expressed frustration with a political establishment perceived as favoring corporate interests over ordinary workers. "As Democrats tried to understand why Trump had won again, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez argued that the path for the party to win back working class voters should be centered on economic populism, confronting concentrated wealth and power, and revitalizing American democracy," the memo states.
The document points to Ocasio-Cortez's endorsements in key primary and general election races across states including California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Montana as evidence of her impact. It specifically cites Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate campaign in Michigan and Sam Forstag’s Congressional primary victory in Montana as examples of her influence in rural and conservative-leaning areas. Forstag, who had been trailing in polls, saw a significant shift after Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders appeared with him at a rally in Missoula, Montana, which preceded his primary win.
The memo also references a turning point after her unsuccessful bid for ranking member of the House Oversight Committee and a March 2025 budget standoff where Senate Democratic leadership made concessions during federal shutdown negotiations. In response, Ocasio-Cortez reportedly shifted her focus to directly engaging with voters on a national tour.
Speaking at a rally in Idaho, Ocasio-Cortez articulated her message: "I want us all to understand that this constant pressure we feel in our lives—of the water rising up to our throats, the impossibility to afford anything easily, the fear of speaking up or being who we are in public, the bitter divisions driven more by online algorithms than the truth, the crumbling of our rights and protections— understand that this, right now, is what it feels like to be governed by billionaires."
In the two years since, the memo asserts, Ocasio-Cortez has conducted large-scale rallies in diverse political landscapes. "She made race-changing endorsements in swing districts and deep-blue party primaries, as well as in her home base of New York City," the memo added.