Vance Predicts AOC’s 2028 Candidacy
On Tuesday, Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, representing the Bronx and Queens, is poised to be the Democratic nominee for president in 2028. He seemed to regard other potential candidates as less significant.
“I think it has to be AOC. I know that’s probably conventional wisdom,” Vance shared during an interview on “The Michael Knowles Show,” which was aimed at promoting his new book, “Communion.”
Ocasio-Cortez had a light-hearted response, saying she hopes Vance is the Republican candidate, as Vance recounted.
There’s been ongoing speculation about Ocasio-Cortez’s possible ambitions for either the presidency or a Senate seat in two years. She even found amusement in polls from last year that indicated Vance winning in a hypothetical matchup.
Currently, Ocasio-Cortez ranks fourth among potential candidates in the 2028 race, according to the RealClearPolitics Primary Poll Aggregate. Her approval rating stands at 11%, which is behind Kamala Harris at 27%, Gavin Newsom at 17%, and Pete Buttigieg at 13%.
During the discussion, Vance also dismissed the notion from Knowles that Newsom is the frontrunner for the Democratic Party. He pointed out a previous comment Newsom made, saying, “I have a low IQ, just like you,” to an audience of Black Americans. Vance commented that such remarks are troublesome on several levels.
In February, Newsom conversed with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens regarding his dyslexia and made remarks about not trying to impress anyone, mentioning his SAT score in a humorous context by saying he couldn’t read a speech.
Following that, Newsom’s team called the backlash an orchestrated outrage from right-leaning circles.
Vance observed that Newsom’s comment contained “at least two major political gaffes in one sentence” and joked about his own mistakes being “less efficient.”
If he chooses to run, Vance is perceived as a strong contender for the Republican nomination. However, he insists he isn’t seriously contemplating 2028 until after the midterm elections, stating his primary focus is on helping Republicans maintain control in Congress.
Vance emphasized that the Democratic Party currently seems to be heavily influenced by what he calls “crazy people,” urging Republicans to be mindful of the populist left’s growing presence. “They just don’t seem to grasp where economic populism lies. In fact, populism is quite appealing, and I think Republicans should be more alert to that,” he remarked.
