The grassroots political movement that coalesced around Bernie Sanders’ two presidential campaigns is entering a critical transition phase, with the question of who carries the progressive torch into 2028 still firmly unresolved. At the centre of that uncertainty stands Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a figure widely regarded within left-wing circles as the only politician capable of instantly reshaping the entire field if she chooses to run.
Progressive strategists and organisers say the pressure on Ocasio-Cortez to mount a presidential campaign is quietly intensifying, driven by a straightforward calculation: no other figure on the left commands anywhere near her profile, fundraising capability, or organic connection with voters.
Allies have pitched her team with the argument that she would enter the race already polling among the top five of potential Democratic contenders, with the ability to raise in excess of $100 million online without a single in-person fundraiser. Sanders himself has described her as “a very, very good politician, in the best sense of the word,” praising the authenticity of her interactions with ordinary people at the mass rallies the two have headlined together.
Her political reach was on full display during the “Fight Oligarchy” tour she joined Sanders on in early 2025, drawing crowds of thousands across the country including in states carried by Donald Trump. Those rallies were widely seen as a test of whether her appeal was limited to coastal strongholds or reflected a broader, national movement. The evidence pointed toward the latter.
Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution — the organisation Sanders founded — said his group’s eight million members remain open-minded about the 2028 field but acknowledged Ocasio-Cortez holds a structural advantage. “AOC, Ro Khanna, potentially others would have an advantage given they’ve been leading on issues that are important to the base,” he said. Others in progressive circles have put it more bluntly, arguing that the entire shape of the 2028 race changes depending on whether she enters it.
Representative Ro Khanna of California has positioned himself as the most credible alternative should Ocasio-Cortez stand aside. Khanna served as a co-chair of Sanders’ 2020 campaign and counts former Sanders operatives Jeff Weaver and Mark Longabaugh among his advisers. He has been building name recognition aggressively through media appearances and high-profile legislative causes, including leading efforts to release the Epstein files. Progressive strategists credit him with doing the kind of sustained groundwork that Sanders did before his 2016 campaign. Some have floated Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen as another potential contender, citing his pointed opposition to both Israeli policy and Trump’s immigration agenda.
The complicating factor is that Ocasio-Cortez herself has not signalled intent. People close to her say she would be comfortable allowing another left-wing candidate to carry the movement’s standard in 2028. A portion of her own allies have urged her to train her sights on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s New York seat instead. The outcome of this year’s midterm Senate races in Maine and Michigan may influence her thinking, with strong progressive performances potentially validating the case for a left-wing presidential run.
Sanders at 84 is considered too old to mount another credible campaign. The movement he spent a decade building is waiting — but the window, as his allies keep reminding Ocasio-Cortez’s team, will not stay open indefinitely.
Timothy Mason is a senior reporter at the Foreign Policy Journal, covering current affairs and business news. He studied Economics at the University of Michigan and has worked as a journalist for over seven years.
