Who is Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez? New York Democrat frontrunner in the race for US presidency in 2028
AOC said she is focused on the midterms but hasn’t “ruled out the possibility” of a 2028 bid.File image of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York(Bloomberg)Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, widely known as AOC, of New York said Sunday (9 August) that she has not ruled out a bid for the US presidency or a Senate seat in 2028, as she campaigns for Democrats ahead of November’s midterm elections.Ocasio-Cortez made these remarks to ABC News when asked if she had any plans to run for US president in two years and added, "I’m focused on winning the midterms. I’m running for Congress right now." She further said, "I haven’t ruled out the possibility. And I’m very humbled by the tremendous amount of support out there." However, the Democratic congresswoman reiterated that she is currently focusing on the midterms rather than her political future.When asked if she would consider running to become a senator in New York in 2028, when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will be up for re-election, Ocasio-Cortez said, "I think that anything is possible at this juncture."Ocasio-Cortez to run for US presidency?According to reports, Ocasio-Cortez is increasingly being viewed as a potential candidate for the US presidency in 2028. On Kalshi, she ranks among the top contenders for the Democratic nomination, while other prediction markets have also listed her as a prominent potential candidate in the broader 2028 race.AOC’s political ambitions have been a subject of speculation for years, particularly as she has used her national profile to back progressive challengers who have defeated more moderate, establishment-backed candidates despite having significantly larger campaign funds.She noted that it's time to renew the Democratic Party and added, "I think that we are in a time of renewal for the Democratic Party. And it’s tremendously exciting for all of us, for the big tent of the Democratic Party." She further said, "We have really an ascendance of a young, inspiring, exciting electorate, energizing wave of candidates that I think really inject a new energy to the Democratic Party and add to the toolbox of candidates that we have to win the midterm elections hopefully in November."Here's all you need to know about Alexandria Ocasio-CortezBorn in the Parkchester neighbourhood of the Bronx, Ocasio-Cortez moved with her family to Yorktown, roughly 30 minutes north, as her parents sought better public school opportunities for her and her brother. Her mother, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, worked as a domestic worker throughout her childhood, while her father, a second-generation Bronx resident, ran a small business in the borough. The congresswoman regularly returned to the Bronx to spend time with her extended family, according to her official website.After high school, she attended Boston University and graduated with degrees in Economics and International Relations. During this time, she also worked as an intern in the office of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, where she experienced firsthand the heartbreak families endured after being separated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).She later began working as an Educational Director with the National Hispanic Institute, a role in which she helped Americans, DREAMers, and undocumented youth with community leadership and college readiness.After volunteering for Bernie Sanders in 2016 in the South Bronx, Ocasio-Cortez made her debut in national politics in 2018 by defeating 10-term Democratic incumbent Joe Crowley in a primary upset. In 2019, she was sworn in as the youngest woman and youngest Latina ever to serve in Congress.Reflecting on her political rise since 2018, Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday told ABC, "It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be ab
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