‘It’s Gotta Be AOC’: JD Vance Predicts 2028 Democratic Nominee; AOC replies: ‘I hope he is also nominated’ | Today’s news
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) responded after Vice President JD Vance said he believes she will be the Democratic Party’s front-runner for president in 2028, fueling fresh speculation about her political future.
JD Vance: “It has to be AOC”
Speaking on The Michael Knowles Show, Vance was asked who he thought would emerge as the Democratic nominee in the 2028 presidential election.
“I think it has to be AOC,” Vance said. “I know that’s probably the conventional wisdom.
Vance, who is widely considered a potential Republican presidential nominee in 2028, did not elaborate further on why he believed Ocasio-Cortez would lead the Democratic field.
AOC replies: ‘I hope he’s nominated too’
When asked about Vance’s remarks, Ocasio-Cortez responded with a brief but pointed remark.
“I hope he is also a candidate,” she told reporters.
Her response seemed to indicate that she would welcome a potential election matchup with Vance if both secured their parties’ nominations.
The AOC did not rule out a higher authority
The exchange comes amid growing speculation about whether the 36-year-old New York congresswoman could seek higher office in 2028.
In an interview in May, Ocasio-Cortez refused to rule out a future run for either the White House or the U.S. Senate, instead stressing that her priorities go beyond just elected office.
“They assume my ambition is a title or a place,” she said. “And my ambition is much bigger. My ambition is to change this country.”
She added: “Presidents come and go. Senate seats, House seats, elected officials come and go. But single-payer health care is forever, the living wage is forever, workers’ rights are forever, women’s rights, all of that.”
Speculation for 2028 is growing
While neither Vance nor Ocasio-Cortez have announced plans to run for president in 2028, both are increasingly seen as influential figures in their respective parties, making them frequent subjects of early presidential speculation.
