Overview

• Axios reports that people familiar with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s operation say she is preparing infrastructure for either a 2028 presidential bid or a New York Senate run.
• The congresswoman has hired former senior advisers to Bernie Sanders, joined his national “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, and staged town halls in Upstate New York beyond her district.
• Her operation has invested millions in digital advertising and donor-list building, helping generate hundreds of thousands of small-dollar contributions and grow her 36.7 million social followers.
• Polling cited in the coverage shows mixed national primary standing but stronger numbers in a hypothetical Democratic Senate primary against Chuck Schumer, including leads in recent surveys.
• Ocasio-Cortez has not committed to a race, her office declined to comment, Schumer’s team did not respond, and allies such as Ari Rabin-Havt argue it would be wrong to assume she cannot win.