As the Democratic Party grapples with an identity crisis, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is rapidly emerging as its next major progressive standard-bearer — drawing huge crowds, smashing fundraising records, and polling near the top of hypothetical 2028 presidential fields.
Partnering with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ocasio-Cortez has been touring the country on a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, electrifying audiences even in red states like Utah, Idaho, and Montana. In Salt Lake City, thousands chanted “AOC! AOC!” as she exited the stage. In Idaho, a local union leader called introducing her “the greatest honor of my life.”
Ocasio-Cortez, 35, now boasts one of the most powerful national profiles among Democrats. A recent YouGov poll found her with a +61 approval rating among Democrats — higher than any Democrat who hasn’t run for president. A Yale poll put her second only to Vice President Kamala Harris in early 2028 presidential speculation.
Her fundraising has also surged, with $9.6 million raised in the first quarter of 2025 — more than double her previous record. That money could power a national campaign or help support allies down the ballot.
Sanders, 83, remains active, but many Democrats sense he is passing the torch. The two deny this — emphasizing their shared focus on resisting Donald Trump’s agenda. “She remains focused on working with Sen. Sanders to organize the mass movement of working people this country needs right now,” said Mike Casca, Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff.
Still, some Democratic strategists worry about the party drifting too far left. But Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders argue that reclaiming working-class voters requires bold ideas, not moderation. “We don’t accept this blue state–red state nonsense,” Sanders said. “We are the United States of America.”
Ocasio-Cortez rose to national prominence in 2018 after winning the Democratic primary for New York’s 14th congressional district, defeating 10-term incumbent and Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley in what was widely regarded as the most significant upset of the 2018 midterm primaries. She went on to win the general election against Republican Anthony Pappas and was reelected in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
