In a recent statement to Politico, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) indicated that she is indeed considering a presidential bid in 2028. The move comes after months of speculation, as the congresswoman has long been viewed as a potential candidate but had refused to comment.
The comments came during a campaign event in Michigan, where AOC had traveled in order to support the candidacy of Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate. When asked directly about a possible White House run, Ocasio-Cortez replied, “I mean, I can’t say that I’ve ruled it out.”
The Politico Playbook article described the interview as taking place backstage in Grand Rapids, where Ocasio-Cortez addressed a crowd of more than 2,500 people. She discussed her approach to endorsements and party dynamics, as a number of far-left candidates — including a number backed by Ocasio-Cortez — have unseated incumbent Democrats in recent months.
“I think that there’s nuances to a candidate — I think — or to any campaign, that are holistic, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t important,” she said. She added that choosing not to endorse does not equate to rejection and that she sets a high bar for her involvement because she invests significant energy in endorsed candidates.
On criticisms regarding shifts in her positions, Ocasio-Cortez stated, “I think my vote record speaks for itself.”
AOC reportedly “isn’t ruling out” a 2028 presidential run – Politico pic.twitter.com/1HSubZ3Qpf
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Ocasio-Cortez has long been discussed as a potential Democratic Party presidential contender in 2028, while additional reports have linked her to a potential bid for U.S. Senate.
Axios reported in September 2025 that she and her team were positioning her for a possible run for president or for the U.S. Senate in 2028. Earlier Politico reporting from March 2025 noted uncertainty among those close to her about whether she intended to pursue the presidency, while highlighting interest from some Democrats in a potential primary challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in New York.
Polling data has shown varying levels of support for Ocasio-Cortez in early surveys of potential 2028 Democratic primary voters. One Atlas poll released in May of this year found that 26 percent of Democrat voters indicated they would support her in a hypothetical primary field.
A Saint Anselm College Survey Center poll in New Hampshire, released in late June, placed her second among potential candidates with 17 percent support, behind former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 29 percent.
