Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) holds a narrow lead in a recent poll asking Democrats which political leader “best reflects” the party’s core values.
In a recent CNN survey, Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents were asked to name one leader who they believe embodies the Democratic Party’s principles.
The responses varied: 10 percent named Ocasio-Cortez, followed by 9 percent for former Vice President Kamala Harris, 8 percent for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and 6 percent for House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.).
Former President Barack Obama and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) each garnered 4 percent, while Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) were each named by 2 percent of respondents.
An additional 15 Democrats—many with past or rumored presidential aspirations—received 1 percent support. However, 26 percent of respondents said they had no opinion, while 5 percent either gave non-name responses or said no one. The remaining names accounted for a combined 5 percent.
The results underscore the lack of consensus among Democrats on party leadership at a time when Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress.
Ocasio-Cortez has recently been a vocal critic of Schumer, condemning his support for a Republican-backed spending bill that the majority of Democrats opposed. The legislation includes cuts to key programs and expands President Trump’s authority over government funding.
“There is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal,” Ocasio-Cortez told a press pool on Thursday, denoting Schumer’s decision. “And this is not just about progressive Democrats. This is across the board — the entire party.”
Schumer defended his decision, arguing that a government shutdown would have been even more damaging, effectively speeding up Trump’s efforts to dismantle agencies he opposes. However, he has faced sharp criticism from within his own party for not putting up a stronger fight.
The landscape of Democratic leadership looked very different the last time the party contended with a Trump presidency in 2017—only Sanders appeared near the top of both then and now. At the time, Obama led with 18 percent, followed by Sanders at 14 percent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 10 percent, and Joe Biden at 7 percent.
The latest survey, conducted from March 6-9, polled 1,206 respondents and carries a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.
