Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has made it clear that her aspirations extend far beyond the presidency.
The Democratic socialist and influential figure from New York’s Queens and Bronx districts recently addressed speculation about a potential 2028 presidential bid. She emphasized that her true goal is to fundamentally transform the nation with her progressive agenda.
Speaking at an event hosted by the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, Ocasio-Cortez told David Axelrod, “They assume that my ambition is positional,” referring to the common perception of her political ambitions.
“They think my ambition revolves around a title or seat, but my goals are much more expansive. I aim to change this country,” she stated, highlighting her broader vision for national reform.
While the four-term congresswoman avoided directly answering Axelrod’s inquiry about a 2028 presidential run, her remarks suggest a focus on enacting lasting change over attaining specific positions.
The four-term rep. ducked the famed Obama strategist’s question about whether she is mulling a 2028 presidential run.
“Presidents come and go. Senate [and] House seats, elected officials come and go, but single-payer healthcare is forever,” she added to cheers.
“A living wage is forever. Workers’ rights are forever. Women’s rights. All of that.”
“When you aren’t attached. When you haven’t been like fantasizing about being this or that since the time you were seven years old, it is tremendously liberating,” the congresswoman went on. “Because I get to wake up every day and say, ‘How am I going to meet the moment?’”
Ocasio-Cortez has long cultivated presidential buzz.
Last year, she criss-crossed the country with kindred spirit Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
Currently, she is polling in fourth place among potential Democratic 2028 contenders, behind former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.
“I make decisions by waking up in the morning, looking out the window and observing the conditions of this country and saying, ‘What move or what decision can I make today that is going to get us closer to that future, stronger, faster, better than yesterday?’” she claimed.
Some studies have indicated that Ocasio-Cortez has been one of the least effective members of the House at moving legislation, even when Democrats were in control.
Earlier this year, the Empire State Democrat sparked buzz when she trekked to Germany to partake in multiple panels that coincided with the Munich Security Conference.
Many observers say that as as a test of her foreign policy bona fides. But Ocasio-Cortez suffered several faux pas, such as her word salad answer after what to do if China invades Taiwan and her suggestion that Venezuela is below the equator.
“I’m afraid the issue’s not my understanding but rather the problem is perhaps you’ve gotten adjusted to a president that never thinks before he speaks and doesn’t care about the implications of his words before he speaks on matters like these,” she fired back in an Instagram story after facing backlash.
