The Democratic Socialists of Americas New York City leadership is openly signaling that it would welcome a 2028 presidential bid from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, underscoring the growing clout of the far-left within the Democratic Party and raising fresh questions about the partys ideological trajectory.
During an appearance on MS NOW Reports, DSA New York City co-chair Gustavo Gordillo said his organization would be thrilled if Ocasio-Cortez chose to seek the White House. According to Fox News, Gordillos comments came as the DSA celebrates a string of primary victories that have toppled long-serving establishment Democrats and emboldened the partys socialist wing.
Pressed by host Antonia Hylton on whether the group had begun planning for the 2028 race, Gordillo acknowledged that the DSA intends to play a role in shaping the next presidential contest. I think that we will be trying to influence the next presidential primary, he said, adding, And its still too soon to say how...to say who.
Gordillo nevertheless made clear where much of the organizations enthusiasm lies. You know, I think that many in the organization would be very thrilled if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ended up running, but ultimately thats her decision, and well be in conversation, he said, as Fox News Digital noted it had reached out to Ocasio-Cortezs office for comment.
The DSAs confidence is buoyed by recent electoral upsets against entrenched Democrats. On Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, first elected in 1996, was defeated in Colorado by Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old first-time candidate and former attorney backed by the socialist group.
That shock result followed another wave of victories for the far-left last week. Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old progressive organizer, ousted Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, while state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, also aligned with the DSA, captured a primary to replace retiring Rep. Nydia Velzquez.
Ocasio-Cortez has championed these insurgent candidates despite their history of inflammatory rhetoric that many voters would consider anti-American. Chevalier, for example, previously described the United States as a f---ing disgrace, a remark that has drawn criticism but not condemnation from the congresswoman.
Instead, Ocasio-Cortez has urged Democrats to embrace these challengers and resist efforts to defend incumbents from the left. I actually think the more important advice that I would give would be to my incumbent colleagues which is you will create a self-fulfilling prophecy by deciding who these young women are before you've met them, she told MS NOWs Jen Psaki last week.
For now, Ocasio-Cortez is keeping her presidential ambitions deliberately vague, even as activists on the socialist left attempt to draft her into the 2028 race. Asked by Fox News Digital last month about a potential run, she replied, Could I be president? Could I not be president? Maybe, maybe not, a non-answer that will do little to calm moderates already alarmed by the Democratic Partys accelerating shift toward the DSAs radical agenda.
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