AOC keeps 2028 presidential options open as poll shows her leading in key primary

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday she was 'deeply humbled' by a new poll that shows her leading in the early 2028 presidential primary state of New Hampshire and, when pressed, would not rule out a 2028 White House bid. The Independent spoke with the self-described Democratic socialist congresswoman from the Bronx and Queens after a poll from the University of New Hampshire showed her leading in the first-in-the-nation primary. The survey showed 22 percent of would-be Democratic primary voters prefer Ocasio-Cortez, better known as AOC, while 21 percent would prefer Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Ocasio-Cortez did not directly address whether she'd run, nor rule out a bid for the White House in 2028. 'I think there's two things: One is that you know polls are polls, and a horse race is a horse race,' she said. 'I am, of course, I think, very deeply humbled and grateful to you know folks who participate and convey that confidence.' But Ocasio-Cortez said her main focus was helping Democrats win back the majority in the House of Representatives. 'I'm honestly I think my main focus is is really genuinely just the midterms right now, and we have to make sure that we win this majority,' she said.