By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-03 07:07:03 | Updated at 2026-08-04 00:50:29
18 hours ago
Members of the Democratic Socialists of America see their recent triumph in helping elect Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City as a sign to boost Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for President in 2028.
The Democratic Party is set for a wide open primary in 2028 that could see anyone from Gavin Newsom to Pete Buttigieg to even Kamala Harris running for the White House.
However, the furthest left faction of the party believes that after Mamdani's victory and the success of other far left candidates in House and Senate primaries this year, now may be the time for a DSA-endorsed President.
Outside the recent DSA national convention in Chicago, key members told The Washington Post that not only should the organization get on board but that the time to push Ocasio-Cortez into the race was now or never.
Katie Sims, an electoral organizer in Ithaca, New York, said 'we really gotta put our feet where our mouth is' to beat out better funded establishment campaigns.
Sims was asked by a fellow member if there were any other potential candidate they'd consider endorsing and she responded: 'No one.'
Another member, who spoke to the Post anonymously as DSA advises members at the convention not to speak to reporters, believes it's the New York Congresswoman's time.
'We've all known Alex. We've all organized with her over the years. This is the first time in 10 years I feel like she has a real shot at the presidency,' added one member.
Members of the Democratic Socialists of America see their recent triumph in electing Zohran Mamdani Mayor of New York City as a sign to boost Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for President in 2028
Outside the recent DSA national convention in Chicago , key members believe that not only should the organization get on board but that the time to push Ocasio-Cortez into the race was now
While DSA endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020, they did not endorse in the 2024 race. Some members believe Ocasio-Cortez is their option in 2028.
'Everybody is well aware that everything we're doing right now as DSA is either setting us up or not setting us up to be serious political players in the 2028 election,' said Los Angeles-based member Frances Gill.
DSA held a closed door meeting during the convention to set up a process for potentially endorsing AOC for President.
Members believe that the endorsement outweighs the risks, because like Mamdani's mayoral campaign did for New York City, it would get the DSA into regions of the country where they've never run serious candidates.
But despite being, arguably, the organization's most famous member, Ocasio-Cortez has a somewhat fraught relationship with it.
The national organization withdrew its endorsement of her in 2024 over what they saw as not fulfilling conditions of being sufficiently anti-Israel.
The DSA has also caused recent controversy over a public push to abolish the Senate, one that Ocasio-Cortez shrugged off and refused to support.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez and the DSA for comment.
Members believe that the endorsement outweighs the risks, because like Mamdani's mayoral campaign did for New York City, it would get the DSA into regions of the country where they've never run serious candidates
DSA's national organization withdrew its endorsement of AOC in 2024 over what they saw as not fulfilling conditions of being sufficiently anti-Israel
Despite persistent speculation, AOC has been close-mouthed about the possibility of a presidential run. But she hasn't ruled a bid out.
She told Fox News in late July she has 'genuinely not really weighed seriously anything past the midterm elections.'
Many have speculated that Ocasio-Cortez will either seek the White House or Democrat leader Chuck Schumer's Senate seat in 2028.
'I think that I'm taking in this information just like anybody else,' she added.
Ocasio-Cortez has also found herself influential within the party, scoring several recent victories of endorsed candidates.
She backed Mamdani, as well as Congressional winners Analilia Mejia and Adam Hamawy in New Jersey,
Ocasio-Cortez has also endorsed left-winger Abdul El-Sayed in Tuesday's Michigan Senate primary.
Ultimately, whether the organization endorses or not, Ocasio-Cortez has not been at the front of the pack in Democratic Primary polls.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris remains the favorite in most Democrat Primary polls
Former Vice President and 2024 runner up Kamala Harris remains at the top of most surveys.
In a poll conducted by Big Data earlier this week, Harris is way out in front with 30 percent of the vote.
That has her double the tally of her California rival, Governor Gavin Newsom (ten percent) and triple that of Ocasio-Cortez (nine percent).
Harris leads the survey among black, white, Hispanic and Asian Democrats and Democrats under the age of 30 by impressive margins.
She even led Ocasio-Cortez by 26 points among self-identified Democratic Socialists.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senators Jon Ossoff and Mark Kelly, as well as Governors Josh Shapiro and Andy Beshear were also part of the poll.
