Chris Stirewalt, a prominent political analyst, has identified California Governor Gavin Newsom and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the standout figures from the recent election night.

During an election night special on Tuesday, Stirewalt, who anchors “The Hill on Sunday,” remarked that the series of victories for the Democratic Party could pave the way for a potential 2028 clash between these two influential leaders.

“We’re witnessing the rise of figures like Zohran Mamdani, who, while not directly created by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, certainly embodies the movement she helped pioneer,” Stirewalt noted. “He is an extension of the early avatar she represented.”

Stirewalt further elaborated on the divergent paths within the Democratic Party, saying, “We have two distinct visions emerging: one from Gavin Newsom in California and the other from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York. This marks the beginning of a spirited contest between these two ideologies as we look towards 2028. It’s indicative of the challenging internal debate over the future direction of the Democratic Party.”