Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez completed a four-day swing through upstate New York aimed at boosting turnout ahead of the November election, but the tour is also fueling speculation about her political future.
Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of the Bronx and Queens, made stops in Buffalo, Ithaca and Syracuse from Thursday through Sunday. She was warmly received during the tour.
“It’s not just about winning elections. It’s about how we win elections,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Communications strategist Andrew Kirtzman said the official purpose of the tour was to energize Democratic voters and candidates, while also giving Ocasio-Cortez an opportunity to build relationships in communities where she has not previously had the same level of exposure.
“I mean, you can’t discount the official reason for her trip, which is to fire up the base for Democratic candidates. On the other hand, she’s now forming relationships she’s never had before in upstate communities,” Kirtzman said.
Those relationships could be valuable if Ocasio-Cortez pursues a 2028 run for Senate or president, Kirtzman said. Ocasio-Cortez has expressed interest in both positions.
Ocasio-Cortez has also acknowledged the challenge of seeking statewide office in New York.
“You do not win the U.S. Senate seat just by winning New York City. No matter how popular you are,” she said.
Kirtzman said information gathered during stops like the upstate tour could factor into Ocasio-Cortez’s political calculations for 2028.
“The question she’s facing for a potential Senate run is not that different from the questions for folks nationally, which is how does she extend her appeal beyond blue corners?” he said
Kirtzman said Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic Socialist, would need to appeal to moderates without alienating her base if she decides to pursue a Senate seat or the presidency.
Ocasio-Cortez said her focus is broader than her own political future.
“I think the movement is so much bigger than any one person. And I consider myself a part of it. I also think that these decisions aren’t always about punditry or ideology. It’s about putting the country first, and I think, first and foremost, to me, what’s important is ending the reign and the corrupt reign of the Trump administration, as well as any of its acolytes that might emerge from this,” she said.