In an interview released this week on Axios' The Axios Show, Sen. Bernie Sanders praised Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and said she would be a 'formidable' presidential candidate in 2028, while emphasizing that any decision rests with her.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would be a "formidable" contender if she sought the presidency in 2028, telling Axios' Alex Thompson that Ocasio-Cortez is "a very, very good politician" and "an incredibly intelligent person." He added that it would be "her decision to make" whether to pursue the White House or another path, such as a future Senate run. Axios first aired excerpts of the exchange this week on The Axios Show.
Sanders highlighted Ocasio-Cortez's personal story and retail politics, saying he has seen how "genuine and open" she is with people and noting her working-class roots, including that she "was a kid who was cleaning houses with her mother" and "knows what it's like not to have any money," according to the Axios interview and subsequent reports.
Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat who identifies as a democratic socialist, has been a prominent progressive voice since her 2018 House victory. She joined Sanders on his 2025 "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, which drew large crowds as the pair campaigned on issues such as economic inequality and corporate power.
Neither Sanders nor Ocasio-Cortez announced a 2028 campaign. Sanders' remarks stop short of a formal endorsement but underscore his alignment with younger progressives. He also pointed to a broader bench of rising left-leaning Democrats as reasons for optimism about the party's future.