Democrats are scrambling for a new identity. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is racing to fill that vacuum with a party rooted in Sen. Bernie Sanders’ left-wing populism.
WHY IT MATTERS: Ocasio-Cortez is drawing tens of thousands of people to her rallies with Sanders — even in red states. She’s breaking her own fundraising records, and surging in early polling of potential 2028 presidential candidates.
It feels to many top Democrats like she’s grabbing Sanders’ torch as a progressive leader — and that he’s intentionally passing it to her. The two kindred spirits deny it.
Her rise comes as the Democratic Party base is increasingly agitated by the party’s inability to push back against the Trump administration’s sweeping agenda — and is searching for a champion to fight back.
DRIVING THE NEWS: Ocasio-Cortez has been cheered like a political rock star over the past two weeks as she and Sanders barnstorm the country with mega-rallies for a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
🎥: AFPTV via Getty Images, Drew Angerer/Getty Images, Getty Images Video, Mario Tama/Getty Images, Alex Wong/Getty Images
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