Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent progressive voice from New York, has emerged as the frontrunner in a recent University of New Hampshire poll assessing potential Democratic presidential candidates for 2028. The Granite State Poll, released on Wednesday, found Ocasio-Cortez securing 22% support among likely Democratic primary voters in the crucial early primary state. This development intensifies ongoing speculation about her national political ambitions, particularly following recent reports of an overhaul within her political operation.
"I have genuinely not really weighed seriously anything past the midterm elections," Ocasio-Cortez said, adding, "I think that I’m taking in this information just like anybody else." Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
The survey results place Ocasio-Cortez one percentage point ahead of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who garnered 21%, and a significant 17 points clear of former Vice President Kamala Harris, who registered 5%. Since a similar poll conducted in February, Ocasio-Cortez's support has climbed by seven percentage points. During the same period, both Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom saw their polling numbers decline in New Hampshire.
Andrew Smith, who directs the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, provided insights into the demographic breakdown of Ocasio-Cortez's support base. "Nearly half of socialists and one-third of progressives support Ocasio-Cortez, while pluralities of liberals and moderates support Buttigieg," Smith stated. Buttigieg, who finished second in the 2020 New Hampshire primary as a moderate candidate, has also been actively campaigning for fellow Democrats across the country, fueling his own speculation regarding a potential 2028 presidential bid.
The polling surge for Ocasio-Cortez coincides with a separate, notable development within her political team. Axios reported on August 28 that the congresswoman had undertaken a significant overhaul of her staff. The outlet described these changes as preceding a "2028 decision," without providing specific details regarding affected positions or the identities of exiting or entering staffers. No public explanation accompanied the announcement from her office regarding the reasons behind the internal changes or the extent of the restructuring. Ocasio-Cortez’s office has remained publicly silent on the matter, declining to detail the personnel moves or confirm any direct link between the shake-up and a specific future campaign, such as a presidential or Senate bid. The exact nature of her political ambitions—whether a presidential run, a Senate campaign, or another strategic maneuver—remains an open question, as the initial reporting did not definitively pinpoint her precise goals. No representative for Ocasio-Cortez has clarified the reasoning behind the overhaul, leaving the timeline and motivations open to interpretation.
Adding to the intrigue, Ocasio-Cortez recently made a public appearance at a "Defend the Vote" rally at the Lincoln Memorial. This event, held to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the March on Washington, kept her firmly in the national spotlight. However, no reporting has directly connected this public appearance to the internal staffing changes within her political operation. This is not the first instance this year that Ocasio-Cortez has fueled discussions about a potential national campaign. In July, she declined to definitively rule out a possible 2028 presidential run after an earlier survey also indicated her leading among potential Democratic contenders. When asked directly by Fox News Digital whether she intended to seek the Democratic nomination in 2028, she offered a non-committal response. "I have genuinely not really weighed seriously anything past the midterm elections," Ocasio-Cortez said at the time, adding, "I think that I’m taking in this information just like anybody else."
This non-answer comes at a time when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is facing re-election in two years. Ocasio-Cortez has repeatedly been mentioned as a possible primary challenger to Schumer, alongside the persistent talk of a presidential campaign. Beyond her own potential electoral aspirations, Ocasio-Cortez has been an active supporter of a slate of self-identified socialist candidates. Several of these candidates have successfully defeated both sitting incumbents and establishment-favored Democrats in primary races, reflecting a broader shift within certain segments of the Democratic Party. When previously pressed about her overarching political objectives, Ocasio-Cortez has stated her goal is to "change the country." As of now, neither Ocasio-Cortez nor her office has issued a formal campaign announcement for any office, and her precise 2028 intentions remain officially unconfirmed, even as the recent polling data and staff changes continue to draw national attention and fuel political speculation.
