Archive · 8 Aug 2026
AOC gaining ground as potential 2028 US presidential contender
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known as AOC, is a famous politician from New York.
She became famous in 2018 when she surprised everyone by beating a longtime congressman.
Now many people think she might run for president of the United States in 2028.
Special prediction websites, where people guess about election outcomes, show she is doing well.
She is among the top three choices for the Democratic Party's nomination.
She is behind Gavin Newsom and Jon Ossoff, but ahead of Kamala Harris.
On another website, she moved ahead of Gavin Newsom for the overall 2028 race.
This happened after a poll in New Hampshire showed 22 percent of likely Democratic primary voters support her.
She went on a big tour with Senator Bernie Sanders that drew huge crowds, even in conservative states.
AOC has not said for sure that she will run, but she says her ambition is 'to change the country.'
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is increasingly viewed as a potential contender for the 2028 US presidential race, ranking among the leading potential Democratic nominees on Kalshi.
As of August 7, 2026, Kalshi shows her at ~15% for the Democratic nomination, trailing Gavin Newsom (~18%) and Jon Ossoff (~16%).
On Polymarket, she moved ahead of Newsom in the outright 2028 race (~11% to ~10%) after a New Hampshire poll placed her first among likely Democratic primary voters with 22% support.
A Guardian opinion piece by Bhaskar Sunkara urges her to enter the race early, citing her joint 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour with Bernie Sanders that drew over 12,500 people in Nampa, Idaho.
Ocasio-Cortez has not declared a candidacy, saying only that her ambition is 'to change the country.'
- Who
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic congresswoman and democratic socialist who represents New York's 14th District.
- What
- Ocasio-Cortez is increasingly viewed as a potential contender for the 2028 US presidential race, with her chances rising in prediction markets.
- When
- Prediction market data is dated August 7, 2026; the 2028 presidential election day is November 7, 2028.
- Where
- United States, with polling cited from New Hampshire and a campaign rally in Nampa, Idaho.
- Why
- Her joint 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour with Bernie Sanders drew unusually large crowds, and a New Hampshire poll placed her first among likely Democratic primary voters.
Supporters
Skeptics
Presidential viability
Supporters
Bhaskar Sunkara argues Ocasio-Cortez could mount a serious national campaign on the left and mobilise a broader movement behind it, urging her to enter the race early.
Skeptics
Ocasio-Cortez still trails frontrunners Gavin Newsom and Jon Ossoff for the Democratic nomination and has not declared a candidacy.
Message and appeal
Supporters
Her recent outreach to Trump voters in her own district and strong New Hampshire poll numbers show growing appeal.
Skeptics
Critics point to moments where her language leaned academic rather than plain-spoken, such as her 2022 defence of the term 'Latinx.'
- Kalshi nomination odds (Aug 7, 2026)
- AOC ~15%; Gavin Newsom ~18%; Jon Ossoff ~16%; Kamala Harris ~8%
- Polymarket 2028 odds
- AOC ~11%, ahead of Newsom at ~10%
- New Hampshire poll support
- 22% among likely Democratic primary voters
- Nampa, Idaho rally crowd
- Over 12,500 people
- Democratic working-class support
- 45% by 2024, down from nearly two-thirds in 1992
- Candidacy status
- Not declared; AOC says her ambition is 'to change the country'
- 2028 election day
- November 7, 2028