Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's public discussions and videos about her egg-freezing process have drawn scrutiny, with critics suggesting a political motive behind her openness about fertility treatments. Pollsters and commentators note that the detailed social media posts could be a strategic effort to connect with a crucial demographic of women aged 35-49, potentially bolstering a future presidential bid.
Andrew Smith, director of the Survey Center at the University of New Hampshire, suggested the approach aims to appeal to "older women, rather than just the young under-34-year-olds." He indicated that women in the 35-49 age range are "hearing that biological clock ticking more loudly," making this demographic significant.
Ocasio-Cortez, 36, has shared videos on Instagram, where she has 9.7 million followers, detailing aspects of her egg-freezing journey. In one video, she humorously referred to it as "making eggs" and discussed the financial commitment, estimating costs between $8,000 and $9,000 for treatments.
Conservative activist Laura Loomer expressed skepticism on X, formerly Twitter, writing, "AOC is freezing her eggs at 36 because she wants to try to ‘relate’ to women when she runs for President in 2028." Loomer also suggested that freezing eggs at her age, given she has been engaged for four years, could be a "lost cause" and framed it as a potential "sob story about infertility" for a future presidential campaign.
Chris Cillizza, a former CNN political reporter and independent commentator, noted that IVF is emerging as a politically significant issue, with Pew polling showing broad support across party lines. "This is something that her willingness to talk about will endear her to women," Cillizza said. He added, "The decision to announce it publicly suggests to me that she can reap the political benefits from it. I’d be surprised at this point if she did not run for president in 2028." Cillizza also pointed out that Ocasio-Cortez appeared on a Sunday show the morning after her Instagram announcement, a program known for its political focus, shortly after she had first shared news of her egg-freezing.
Conversely, some Democratic colleagues have defended Ocasio-Cortez's actions. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) stated, "I love seeing more people take ownership over their lives to make the decisions that are right for them – whether it’s through egg freezing, IVF, or something else." Jacobs emphasized that sharing personal experiences can help normalize fertility and reproductive health discussions and advocate for better policies.
Data from the Census Bureau indicates an increase in childless women across various demographics, with the exception of those aged 45 to 50. In the 2024 election cycle, women represented a larger voting bloc than men, with the 45-64 age group constituting the largest segment of female voters, according to the League of Women Voters.
While Ocasio-Cortez currently garners strong support among voters under 34, polling data suggests a gap in the 35-49 demographic. A recent UNH poll indicated she received 18% support among voters aged 35-49, compared to 43% among those under 34. In that same poll, Pete Buttigieg, former Secretary of Transportation, polled higher with 24% among the 35-49 demographic and 27% among women overall, compared to Ocasio-Cortez's 16% among all women.
In a hypothetical 2028 presidential poll included in the notes, Buttigieg led with 19% of the vote, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 15%, and Ocasio-Cortez at 14%. Ed Rollins, who managed Ronald Reagan's 1984 campaign, described Ocasio-Cortez as a "force of nature" and a "smart politician" adept at building and expanding her political base. He suggested that appealing to the "soccer mom/IVF crowd" could be key to her presidential ambitions.
The political implications of discussing reproductive health in campaigns were highlighted by the 2024 performance of former Vice President Kamala Harris, who focused on restoring Roe v. Wade but reportedly lost ground among most female voter demographics to Donald Trump, with the exception of women over 65.