Members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are urging Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run for president in 2028, citing recent successes in local elections as a sign that a DSA-backed candidate could gain national traction. This sentiment emerged following the victory of Zohran Mamdani, who was elected mayor of New York City with the support of the organization.
Discussions at the recent DSA national convention in Chicago indicated a strong push for Ocasio-Cortez, with some members expressing a belief that the 2028 presidential primary could present an open field for progressive candidates. "We really gotta put our feet where our mouth is" to challenge more established campaigns, said Katie Sims, an electoral organizer from Ithaca, New York, emphasizing the need for the organization to commit to backing a presidential bid.
While the DSA endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 and 2020 presidential primaries, they did not endorse a candidate in the 2024 race. "Everybody is well aware that everything we're doing right now as DSA is either setting us up or not setting us up to be serious political players in the 2028 election," stated Los Angeles-based member Frances Gill, suggesting that current efforts are strategically aligned with the 2028 election cycle.
The organization held a closed-door meeting during the convention to establish a process for potentially endorsing Ocasio-Cortez. Members see such an endorsement as an opportunity to expand the DSA's reach into new regions of the country, similar to how Mamdani's mayoral campaign is viewed as having done for New York City.
However, Ocasio-Cortez's relationship with the national DSA has seen some friction. The organization withdrew its endorsement of her in 2024, citing concerns over her stance on anti-Israel issues. Additionally, Ocasio-Cortez has distanced herself from the DSA's public calls to abolish the Senate.
Ocasio-Cortez has not definitively ruled out a presidential run, though she has stated her focus remains on the upcoming midterm elections. Speculation about her future political ambitions includes a potential presidential bid or a run for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's seat in 2028. She has also played a role in endorsing other candidates, including Mamdani and congressional candidates Analilia Mejia and Adam Hamawy, as well as Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's Senate primary.
Despite the internal support, Ocasio-Cortez trails other potential Democratic candidates in early polling. A recent poll by Big Data indicated that former Vice President Kamala Harris leads the field with 30 percent of the vote, followed by California Governor Gavin Newsom at 10 percent, and Ocasio-Cortez at 9 percent. Harris also holds a significant lead among various demographic groups, including self-identified Democratic Socialists.