Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Friday said her goals are not confined to an office or position when asked about whether she plans to run for higher office, saying her “ambition is bigger than that.”
Ocasio-Cortez, 36, made the remarks during a conversation with former Obama adviser David Axelrod at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, in which they discussed her political outlook for the Democratic Party’s direction. During the chat, Axelrod pressed her on whether she sees herself pursuing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer‘s (D-NY) seat or a presidential bid in the coming years.
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A recent op-ed in the Washington Post called Ocasio-Cortez a “likely 2028 presidential candidate,” which she framed as a “veiled threat,” while also noting the paper is owned by Jeff Bezos, before offering a broad answer on her goals.
“They assume my ambition is positional,” she said. “My ambition is way bigger than that. My ambition is to change this country.”
The op-ed Ocasio-Cortez is referring to criticized the congresswoman for saying that billionaire dollars aren’t earned. She went on to say that billionaires break the rules and underpay workers in order to make their wealth.
“This was the elite saying, ‘If you want this job, you just stepped out of line,’” Ocasio-Cortez said of the line calling her a possible presidential candidate.
The article pointed out that many of her colleagues are multi-millionaires, and her anti-capitalist view that has garnered attention could show faults in her philosophy.
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She went on to explain that she makes decisions by “looking out the window and observing the conditions of this country.”
Speculation about Ocasio-Cortez’s future has intensified as some Democrats openly discuss whether she could challenge Schumer in a future primary or mount a White House bid later this decade. Her strong fundraising operation, massive social media following, and growing national influence in the Democratic Party are signs she could be looking to get her name on the ballot.
