Is There a Left Candidate for President?
Progressives are searching for a 2028 presidential candidate after Democrats won both chambers of Congress. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is their most-discussed option.
- Former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe floated Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed.
- $54 million: roughly what El-Sayed raised for his Senate race.
- Rep. Ro Khanna is the most progressive Democrat openly considering a run.
- Booker, Buttigieg, Harris, Van Hollen and Shapiro are also seen as possible contenders.
Why it matters: Without Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic field leans toward figures from the 2016 and 2020 primaries. The left risks entering 2028 without a high-profile candidate.
- El-Sayed said in May he was closing the door on 2028.
- Strategists note a 2028 Senate run would be easier for Ocasio-Cortez.
How 2 sources split on this story
Where they split: The outlets differ on whether the story is a progressive movement seeking a standard-bearer or a Democratic field shaped by strategists' speculation.
Left coverage, 1 sources: The left sees a populist opening after the midterms and worries no progressive besides Ocasio-Cortez can claim it.
Right coverage, 1 sources: The right frames the Democratic field as tilting toward Sanders-aligned figures after a midterm wave that hurt Republicans.
What’s next: Ocasio-Cortez has said she will decide after the midterms, calling 2028 possibly her only window.
- Democrats' record with their new congressional majorities will shape the 2028 race.
- Will Ocasio-Cortez run for president, run for Senate, or do neither?
- Will El-Sayed reverse his May statement and consider a 2028 bid?
