Pollster Matt Towery is sounding the alarm that Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs apparent interest in a 2028 presidential run could lock her party into an even more radical trajectory for years to come.
According to the Daily Caller, Ocasio-Cortez recently refused to rule out a 2028 White House bid during remarks at the Munich Security Conference, where she vowed she would move expeditiously to impose a wealth tax if she becomes president. Towery told Fox News The Ingraham Angle that a potential primary clash between Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom would not moderate the party, but instead push both contenders further left.
And she is going to force Gavin Newsom to be less moderate, and he is going to force her to be less moderate, and theyre both going to squeeze out any possibility of a true moderate Democrat, Towery said, warning that centrist voices would be effectively silenced. He argued that such a contest would cement the dominance of the partys progressive wing, leaving traditional, pro-growth Democrats with little political space.
Guest host Charlie Hurt questioned whether this ideological lurch resonates beyond the activist base, saying, I dont think that among normal voters, this kind of thing plays well. Towery responded by pointing to fresh polling that shows a rapid leftward shift among rank-and-file Democrats, particularly on economic issues.
Right now, what our polling is showing is that more and more Democrats are saying that they identify with socialism. And this is a growing trend, and its occurring very quickly. So theyre playing to a party that they think is going to exist when theyre ready to run for president in this next cycle, Towery said, suggesting candidates like Ocasio-Cortez are betting on a future electorate even more hostile to free-market principles.
A national survey has found that support for democratic socialism has climbed over the past decade, with a growing share of Americans especially Democrats expressing favorable views of socialist policy ideas. The data underscores a broader realignment inside the Democratic Party, as voters increasingly embrace policies that expand government control and redistribute wealth.
Many political observers now openly speculate that Ocasio-Cortez will seek the presidency in 2028, interpreting her career moves as preparation for a national campaign. NewsNation analyst Chris Cillizza noted that her decision to forgo a senior role on the House Oversight Committee signals broader ambitions beyond Capitol Hill.
A March 2025 CNN/SSRS poll reported that a majority of Democrats and left-leaning independents see Ocasio-Cortez as the figure who most reflects the partys core principles. According to CNN data chief Harry Enten, about one-third of Democratic voters overall and 42% of those under 35 now describe themselves as Democratic Socialists, a trend that could set up a stark ideological contrast with Republicans aligned with President Donald Trumps America First agenda.
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