NOW PLAYING
Progressives are hearing new calls for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for his seat in 2028 after democratic socialist candidates won victories in Democratic primaries last week.
It sets up a difficult decision for Ocasio-Cortez.
Many see her as the progressive most able to succeed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the left-wing lane in the 2028 presidential race.
But the results in New York suggest AOC, as Ocasio-Cortez is commonly known, would be well placed to run against Schumer given the playing field in New York.
It’s less clear whether she’d win a presidential race, where the Democratic Party in recent elections has rallied around more centrist politicians at the expense of Sanders and the left.
Lupe Todd-Medina, a Brooklyn-based political strategist who formerly worked for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), said in an interview with The Hill that among Democrats she hears from, there is no doubt that Schumer will face a primary challenge if he runs in 2028, and little doubt that Ocasio-Cortez would be the challenger.
Ocasio-Cortez’s name, Todd-Medina said, “was already on the tongues of Democratic voters for some time, but it also is being talked about in the sense of, is Senator Schumer going to retire, and if he doesn’t retire, the name that comes up who will challenge him has been Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, has always been the name. I actually have not heard another name.”
When asked about the possibility last Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez demurred, saying she’s been focused on the candidates she endorsed in this election and is now taking time to bask in their victory.
“I think that these primary days can be so consuming on these races on their own, and I endorsed 14 downballot candidates in New York. All 14 of them won last night,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “My focus was on them, and so I think I’m going to take a beat and really enjoy their success, and we’ll see what happens from there.”
But the New York primary upsets, and the success of Democratic primary candidates who have not fallen completely in line behind Schumer’s leadership, have kick-started conversation about 2028.
“You’re seeing a change in the people that are being elected, and the people that are being elected are the people that want to see change across the board, so that would include Senator Schumer,” Todd-Medina said.
Ocasio-Cortez has long been floated as a potential presidential candidate and hasn’t ruled out the possibility, though she’s also never confirmed any interest.
The New York Democrat is one of the most visible faces of the party and a prolific fundraiser, and her “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Sanders last year drew huge crowds at a time when the Democratic Party writ large appeared stuck in a rut.
An Emerson College poll in late May showed her in third place among potential Democratic presidential contenders, while an Atlas Poll showed her in first.
At the same time, there’s been a hunger among progressives to oust Schumer — from leadership or from the Senate. Many Democrats were furious after he backed a GOP bill in May 2025 to avert a government shutdown, and after a group of Democrats struck a deal to end the longest shutdown in history in November.
Though Schumer opposed the November deal, a number of progressives were angry he didn’t keep other Democrats in line.
Combined with general progressive feelings that establishment Democrats haven’t done enough to stand up to President Trump and Schumer’s support for Israel, which has emerged as a litmus test of sorts in Democratic primaries this year, the longtime party leader appears vulnerable.
A May Siena University poll found he had an approval rating of 33 percent among all voters and a 47 percent approval rating among Democrats.
The frustration with Schumer and the resounding success of the democratic socialist candidates in New York have seemingly left an open lane for Ocasio-Cortez.
Asked about the possibility of a progressive challenge, a Schumer spokesperson pointed The Hill to his remarks from Wednesday.
“We’re seeing tremendous energy from all different areas of our party. You’re seeing centrist energy in Virginia, Iowa and New Jersey. Progressive energy in New York City. We’re going to harness it all to win in November,” he said. “Because all Democrats are united in the mission of taking back the Senate and defeating Trump.”
But progressives are getting excited about the potential for New York’s primaries to signal a wider changing of the guard.
“New York’s clean sweep was a political earthquake that shows voters want shake-up-the-system fighters who are not owned by corporate interests, billionaires, or corrupt Trump allies like AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs Committee],” said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “This is obviously bad news for Chuck Schumer — who is the exact wrong image for Democrats if the party wants to win.”
Green added that he believes Schumer’s best move would be to step down as leader after the 2026 election and retire in 2028 to make room for new blood.
The progressives in the Senate Democratic Conference also see an energy building. Sanders, when asked about the New York primary results, said they were a reflection of voters desiring a change to a system he sees as corrupt.
“What I get out of it is that the people of New York City and throughout this country are sick and tired of a rigged economic system in which the rich get richer and working families are struggling to put food on the table,” Sanders told reporters. “People are tired of a corrupt campaign finance system in which billionaires through their super PACs are trying to undermine democracy and buy elections. So, you’re seeing all of these super PACs, whether it’s crypto, whether it’s AIPAC, whether it’s AI, spending huge amounts of money, and I think there are people who are saying, ‘Enough is enough, we can’t buy democracy, we’re going to fight back.’”
Add as preferred source on Google Tags Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Bernie Sanders Chuck Schumer Hakeem JeffriesCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore Senate News
See All
Senate Schumer, Warren locked in battle over future of Democratic Party by Alexander Bolton 1 hour ago Senate / 1 hour ago 
