However, her political ambitions could extend beyond the White House.
Ocasio-Cortez has also been floated as a possible successor to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, whose Senate seat will be on the ballot in 2028. Such a move could give her a powerful platform in Washington without requiring her to launch a presidential campaign.
That possibility reportedly presents a challenge for Mamdani and other socialist activists.
If Ocasio-Cortez ultimately decides against pursuing the presidency, the progressive movement could find itself without an obvious candidate capable of representing its ideological wing in the Democratic primary. Mamdani reportedly wants to avoid that scenario and is working to ensure that the movement has a viable alternative should more moderate Democrats begin gaining momentum.
There is, however, one major obstacle preventing Mamdani from entering the presidential contest himself.
Because he was born in Uganda, Mamdani does not meet the Constitution’s natural-born-citizen requirement for the presidency. Rather than pursuing the office personally, he would have to exercise influence from the sidelines by helping recruit candidates, assemble political alliances, and mobilize the organizations capable of shaping a national campaign.
One individual familiar with the discussions described Mamdani’s ambitions this way:
“He wants the progressive ecosystem to mobilize quickly, strategically and efficiently if a moderate candidate is clearly on the rise,” one source said.
The source also pointed to Mamdani’s recent involvement in New York congressional races as evidence that he is already developing the political machinery necessary to influence elections beyond City Hall.
During the most recent election cycle, Mamdani reportedly helped identify, recruit, and support several congressional candidates in New York. That experience could serve as a blueprint for a much broader effort as the 2028 presidential contest approaches.
And he is apparently wasting little time building relationships with organized labor.
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, has already met with Mamdani to discuss the political landscape heading into 2028. The New York mayor is also expected to sit down with Shawn Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers.
Those conversations could prove significant. Labor unions remain an important source of campaign funding, organizational support, and grassroots political mobilization within the Democratic Party. Winning their backing could give progressive candidates a substantial advantage in an increasingly competitive primary.
Meanwhile, Mamdani’s political maneuvering comes against the backdrop of another controversial development in New York: the prospect of additional taxes under Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Just days ago, Mamdani appeared visibly pleased during a joint press briefing with Hochul as the governor discussed the possibility of raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. The proposed revenue increases could help finance programs, including expanded child care initiatives that Mamdani has strongly advocated.
When reporters questioned Hochul about whether she would consider additional taxes on higher-income residents, the governor pointed to her record over the previous five years, during which her administration approved several tax increases.
“When we have a severe need to do something extraordinary, I am willing to do what has to happen.”
Hochul then defended previous tax increases, including the Payroll Mobility Tax, which helps finance New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“I had to increase the Payroll Mobility Tax to make sure that we would keep the lifeline of New York City functioning, and that is the subway system,” she continued.
The governor argued that the additional revenue was necessary to protect the city’s financial standing and maintain essential transportation services.
“I did that for the MTA. Again, I couldn’t let New York City have its bond rating downgraded, causing chaos,” Hochul added. “I needed to help the mayor get out of a problem he didn’t create.”
The exchange highlighted the unusual political alliance developing between Hochul and Mamdani, whose progressive priorities include expanding government-funded services and directing additional public resources toward social programs.
Whether those policies will ultimately resonate with voters outside New York remains another question entirely.
For now, Ocasio-Cortez appears to be one of the most prominent figures being discussed as a potential standard-bearer for the Democratic Party’s socialist wing.
The New York Post reported last week that progressive activists are already laying the groundwork for a possible 2028 presidential campaign through a political organization called the Ready for AOC hybrid PAC.
The group’s emergence suggests that at least some activists are preparing for the possibility that Ocasio-Cortez could eventually make a serious run for the White House.
Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told the outlet that the recent election results could strengthen her prospects.
“Tuesday made the waters a lot warmer for AOC to run,” Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told the outlet.
Green also argued that recent Democratic victories demonstrated the electoral potential of candidates willing to challenge established political and corporate interests.
“Abdul [El-Sayed] and others proved that anti-establishment leaders who challenge corporate power can win in presidential battleground states,” he concluded.
With nearly two years remaining before the 2028 presidential primaries begin taking shape, the Democratic Party’s internal battle over its future leadership is already becoming apparent.
Mamdani’s reported meetings with labor leaders indicate that progressive activists are not content to simply celebrate their recent electoral successes. They want to translate those victories into lasting political influence and ensure that the party’s next presidential nominee reflects their priorities.
The bigger question is whether the progressive movement can unite behind a single candidate or whether competing ambitions will create another internal struggle within the Democratic Party.
If Ocasio-Cortez decides to pursue the presidency, Mamdani could become an important ally in building the organizational support needed for her campaign. If she chooses the Senate instead, however, the socialist wing may have to find another figure capable of carrying its ambitions onto the national stage.
Either way, the groundwork for the next Democratic presidential contest is already being laid—and Mamdani appears determined to have a seat at the table.
