Hakeem Jeffries says 'sky's the limit' for Ocasio-Cortez in 2028 - USA Today
WASHINGTON – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries isn’t ready to make a 2028 pick yet, but says “the sky's the limit” for fellow New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive who has acknowledged she’s considering a presidential bid or a U.S. Senate run.
“Alex has done a tremendous job championing a whole host of issues of great importance to both New Yorkers and to the nation," Jeffries said. “I think the sky's the limit for her in terms of how she decides to move forward. She's going to have to make that decision, you know, at some point. And, you know, it will be big news when she does.”
Ocasio-Cortez, 36, has been weighing whether to seek the presidency or the U.S Senate seat that Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, 75, has held since 1999.
The New York City congresswoman recently completed a listening tour of upstate New York, stoking anticipation that she could challenge Schumer, if the five-term senator who has repeatedly drawn the ire of progressives decides to run again.
Asked in an interview if he thought Schumer should run for reelection – and whether Ocasio-Cortez should compete – Jeffries told USA TODAY he was staying in his lane as House Democratic leader.
He said Schumer had "been a great partner," who he's worked with for a long time. "He'll have to make decisions in the aftermath of this midterm election. I know right now he's focused on trying to take back the Senate,” Jeffries said.
Ocasio-Cortez had a 66% favorability rating among New York Democrats in a recent Quinnipiac University poll. Her overall approval rating in the state stood at 46% — compared to Schumer, who had a 34% statewide approval rating. The longtime lawmaker had a 56% favorability rating among Democrats alone.
In presidential polling, Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, is one of only a handful of potential candidates who has been able to hit double digits.
She received 12% support from Democrats in a Harvard-Harris poll taken in late September, ranking just ahead of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who had 11% support, and behind California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who received 17%.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris led the field with 38% support among surveyed Democrats.
Speaking to the New York Times last month, Ocasio-Cortez was candid about a possible run.
“It’s very all or nothing,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “If I were to run in this cycle, and not win, I would be done.”
Jeffries, who has his eye on the House speakership, said he was not “getting involved in the presidential sweepstakes right now." He told USA TODAY his focus was on winning control of the House.
“I think it's going to be a big field. We'll have some great candidates. Maybe one or two from the House, we’ll see,” Jeffries told USA TODAY.
He said the Democratic Party's presidential primary "will be a robust discussion, so we can actually complete the job, which we have to complete in November of 2028, so we can end the error of MAGA extremism in the United States of America once and for all.”
