‘My ambition is way bigger’: AOC was asked if she’s running for president or Senate. She dismissed both options in one answer

New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has dismissed both a potential 2028 presidential run and a Senate bid. She made these comments during a conversation with David Axelrod, a former adviser to ex-President Barack Obama, and made it clear she is not attached to any specific title or position.

“My ambition is to change this country,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “Presidents come and go. Senate, House seats, elected officials come and go. But single-payer healthcare is forever. A living wage is forever, workers’ rights are forever, women’s rights, all of that.”

“And so anyways… to a finer point to your question is that when you aren’t attached, right, when you haven’t been like fantasizing about being this or that since the time you were 7 years old, um, it is tremendously liberating,” she added, according to Newsweek.

AOC remains a major force in Democratic politics despite ruling out higher office

Despite dismissing both options, Ocasio-Cortez is still widely seen as one of the top potential candidates for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Recent polls have placed her among the leading prospects, alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 

Her ability to draw large crowds and raise money from small-dollar donors makes her a significant figure in the party. She has also been making moves that signal presidential ambitions, though they have not gone without criticism from commentators across the political spectrum.

Her comments have also come amid ongoing speculation about the future of the Bernie Sanders grassroots movement. With Sanders himself not focused on the 2028 election, many are looking at who might carry that movement forward. Ocasio-Cortez has long been associated with that wing of the party, and her future moves will be closely watched by both supporters and critics alike.

Rep. Ro Khanna of California has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the progressive lane in 2028. He holds positions that appeal to the party’s base and has shown an ability to attract support from both the far left and more establishment Democrats. However, he faces real challenges, particularly with low name recognition among everyday voters and difficulties with small-dollar fundraising compared to others in the field.

Despite those challenges, Khanna is still considered a serious contender who could tap into the energy of the grassroots movement. His place in the 2028 primary conversation reflects the broader question of who will lead the progressive wing of the Democratic Party going forward. AOC has also weighed in on other political matters recently, including her take on Trump skipping the Oval Office, which drew considerable attention and public debate.

What is clear from Ocasio-Cortez’s comments is that she is not making decisions based on personal career goals or a long-held dream of holding a specific office. Instead, she says she is focused on what actions will bring the country closer to the future she wants to see. She views that freedom from personal ambition not as a weakness, but as something that allows her to respond to what the country actually needs at any given moment.