Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is quietly laying the groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential bid while working to shore up support among skeptical progressives who have increasingly questioned her ideological commitment and political strategy, Axios reported on Monday.
The New York Democrat, who is also said to be considering a Senate run, has recently taken a harder line on U.S. policy toward Israel — including opposition to all funding, even for defensive systems — in what allies and observers describe as an attempt to repair strained relationships with the party's left flank.
Ocasio-Cortez has faced mounting criticism from some progressive activists who once viewed her as a political heir to independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders but now see her as overly aligned with establishment Democrats and focused on broader appeal.
Privately, according to sources cited by Axios, Ocasio-Cortez has expressed frustration with those critiques, viewing them as counterproductive to the broader progressive movement.
One strategist said she has "lamented that the left was not there for her" and suggested that some critics are "never pleased."
Her recent outreach has focused in part on the Democratic Socialists of America, a group that played a key role in her early political rise but later distanced itself over disagreements on Israel policy.
The organization withdrew its endorsement of her in 2024, citing what it called a "deep betrayal" over her positions on Zionism and military aid.
In a virtual forum with New York City members last month, Ocasio-Cortez sought to reset that relationship, arguing her record had been mischaracterized and committing to oppose any U.S. funding to Israel.
The move drew praise from some on the left, with progressive commentator Daniel Denvir calling it "a master stroke" in repairing ties.
The local DSA chapter in New York City subsequently voted to endorse her reelection bid, though more than 500 members opposed the move — underscoring lingering divisions within the progressive base.
Ocasio-Cortez's recalibration highlights a broader strategic balancing act as she weighs her political future.
While consolidating support on the left could strengthen her standing in a Democrat primary, moderates warn that such shifts could complicate her prospects in a general election.
Tensions also persist between Ocasio-Cortez and some of her early political allies. Saikat Chakrabarti, her former chief of staff and a co-founder of Justice Democrats, is currently running for Congress in California but has not received her endorsement.
Chakrabarti said he was "not surprised," noting she has yet to back candidates in upcoming primaries.
Ocasio-Cortez has previously downplayed the role outside groups played in her 2018 upset victory, emphasizing that her campaign "built everything from scratch."
Another former aide, Corbin Trent, is preparing a book that reflects on what he described as the "limits of individuals" in progressive politics.
Despite internal friction, Ocasio-Cortez continues to draw encouragement from prominent figures on the left, including Sanders, and from early polling that places her among the top tier of potential 2028 Democratic Party contenders, according to Axios.
Her influence was also evident in local politics, where she helped boost democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to victory in New York City's mayoral primary last year — a win seen by allies as a sign of the movement's continued strength.
Whether Ocasio-Cortez ultimately pursues the presidency or a Senate seat, her recent moves suggest a concerted effort to unify a fractured progressive base — a step that could prove decisive in shaping her political future.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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