While Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has not ruled out a potential run for president in 2028, she also has not officially announced her candidacy. Nevertheless, the media attention has been significantly high surrounding her possible campaign. Ocasio-Cortez stands apart from more establishment-oriented Democratic candidates due to her alignment with the progressive movement within the party. Some media coverage has thus focused on whether her progressive politics could limit her appeal, posturing her as a risky choice in favor of an establishment pick.

Ocasio-Cortez’s potential candidacy is currently within the larger context of a renewed competition within the Democratic party, between the Democrat progressive and moderate wings. Recent primaries have shown a rise in influence of populist candidates and organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), causing in-party tension between these two groups. In Florida, DSA member Angie Nixon defeated establishment-backed Alex Vidman in the Democratic Senate primary, while in Michigan, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic Senate primary.

No set list of Democratic presidential primary candidates has been established, but potential candidates include former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Polling suggests that she is far from an unpopular option: she ranks third behind Buttigieg and Newsom and ahead of Harris. She also has a 66% favorability rating, higher than Newsom’s 58%. While Pete Buttigieg remains the most popular potential candidate, Ocasio-Cortez is far from a controversial choice.

Newsweek reporting showed that she was an even match for J.D. Vance, with only a 1-2% difference in polling, a promising result that shows she has potential in a candidate run. While eventual candidates and political environment remain unknown, these polls show that she is a favorable choice.

Despite these polling numbers, several major news outlets have pivoted to doubting Ocasio-Cortez’s viability as a candidate, questioning her electability and national appeal. Just a quick scan of the headlines dominating her potential run illustrates this point: “Is AOC ready to run for president?” from the BBC, “Is Ocasio-Cortez Ready for the Glass Cliff?” from the New York Times and “Is the US ready for President Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?” from the Guardian. Despite her popularity with the people, some news outlets remain convinced that she is a risky choice.

Some conservative outlets have also covered her potential candidacy more favorably. For example, Fox News praised her potential run, noting her “growing strength among Democratic voters” and describing her as well positioned for the 2028 Democratic nomination race.

There remains the question why so much coverage of her potential candidacy focuses on whether she is ‘ready’ rather than on the evidence that she has already established national popularity.

Ocasio-Cortez’s young age, political affiliations and race have all been cited as factors that place her outside the establishment.

This attitude toward Ocasio-Cortez is nothing new. Republicans and political commentators have questioned her knowledge and experience. In one example, Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-D) described her as an “empty barrel.” But the presence of that criticism has not diminished her political appeal.

It is tempting to assign the backlash against her as entirely due to sexism, but that ignores the fact that her ideology is central to the criticism surrounding her. The path to political power for women has never been easy, but her popularity has nonetheless not been stymied by the fact that she is a young woman.

The defeats of Harris in 2024 and Hillary Clinton in 2016 complicate the conversation about female candidates. However, the losses of previous candidates should not be reduced to their gender alone. In 2016, voters expressed concerns about both candidates, while economic advantages were the area where Trump held an advantage over Clinton.

Ocasio-Cortez has used her national power to support progressive candidates, challenging establishment-backed candidates. In 2018, she endorsed candidates including Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush and El-Sayed. Both Pressley and Talib went on to win the Democratic primaries, showing the growing influence of the progressive movement in Congress.

For now, Ocasio-Cortez has not announced a decision between a presidential run or candidacy for another political office. What is clear is that her potential campaign has already created debate over the direction of the party.

Ocasio-Cortez’s political identity has long centered on the economic issues affecting working-class voters. Her 2018 House campaign was focused on her working-class background and her close ties to the community, which helped distinguish her campaign from more traditional Democratic campaign runs.

Cost of living remains the top concern for voters, which sets Ocasio-Cortez up for potential success with her political history.

Whether that message will become a successful presidential campaign is impossible to know yet. But dismissing her as unelectable overlooks her influence that has made her one of the most prominent and recognizable figures of the progressive movement.

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