Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) sidestepped a direct answer about a possible 2028 presidential campaign while discussing her broader political goals during an appearance at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.
Ocasio-Cortez addressed speculation about her future political ambitions Friday during a conversation with former Obama strategist David Axelrod.
Axelrod asked the New York Democrat whether she planned to seek higher office in 2028 amid growing speculation about a potential White House campaign or Senate bid.
“They assume that my ambition is positional,” Ocasio-Cortez responded while discussing assumptions surrounding her long-term political plans and influence within the Democratic Party.
“They assume that my ambition is a title or seat, and my ambition is way bigger than that,” the congresswoman said during the event attended by students and political activists.
“My ambition is to change this country,” Ocasio-Cortez added before discussing policy priorities including healthcare expansion, workers’ rights and progressive economic proposals.
The congresswoman went on to promote policies including single-payer healthcare, higher wages and expanded labor protections while arguing those goals extend beyond any individual elected office.
“Presidents come and go,” Ocasio-Cortez said during the discussion. “Single-payer healthcare is forever. A living wage is forever. Workers’ rights are forever.”
She also described political freedom as coming from not being overly attached to a particular title or office while discussing her approach to public service and activism.
“When you aren’t attached, when you haven’t been fantasizing about being this or that since the time you were seven years old, it is tremendously liberating,” she said.
Ocasio-Cortez has increasingly been mentioned as a possible contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination following her growing national profile and influence among progressive voters, per the Daily Mail.
Political observers have also speculated she could challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a future Democratic primary race in New York.
A March poll conducted by Daily Mail and JL Partners found Ocasio-Cortez received support from 7% of likely Democratic primary voters in a hypothetical 2028 presidential field.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris led the poll with 23%, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom received 19%.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was the only other Democrat to receive double-digit support in the survey with 10%.
Ocasio-Cortez has also recently faced scrutiny over an ethics complaint alleging campaign funds were improperly used for psychiatric services described in filings as “leadership training and consulting.”
