Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s growing influence poses a potential challenge for Republicans wary of her 2028 presidential ambitions.
But should we really be worried?
At a Glance
- Monica Crowley advises Republicans not to underestimate AOC’s influence due to her strong social media presence.
- AOC is known for her progressive policies and effective communication.
- Despite disagreement with her policies, Crowley acknowledges her political assets.
- Republican victories in 2024 highlight a rejection of radical left policies.
Monica Crowley’s Warning
Monica Crowley, a former Trump Treasury official, has emphasized the need for Republicans to acknowledge the potential threat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) poses in the political landscape.
Crowley notes that AOC’s social media prowess and grassroots support cannot be overlooked.
“She was an early adopter of social media… so she’s connecting directly to voters,” she recently argued.
Ocasio-Cortez continues to appeal to diverse voter groups, owing to her adept use of social media and straightforward communication style. And the fact she promises a lot of free stuff.
Crowley served as the assistant secretary for public affairs at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and formerly contributed to Fox News. She draws attention to parallels seen in prior elections, where figures like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama surprised skeptics to win the presidency. Crowley warns, “So, every time the Republicans have underestimated the Democrats, we ended up with Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. So, let’s not do it again in four years,”
AOC’s Political Position
AOC, a Democrat from New York, is renowned for progressive agendas, including Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Her rise to prominence followed a major primary upset against incumbent Joe Crowley in 2018. Though she hasn’t announced a presidential bid for 2028, her name is increasingly floated in political circles, thanks to her vibrant communication ability.
Crowley explained that while she thinks AOC is wrong about a lot, she has a ton of support.
“I think she’s wrong on everything, but she does have real grassroots support. And all of the energy and activism in the Democrat party remains with the revolutionary left, of which she is a part,” she said.
Crowley also pointed out that the 2024 U.S. presidential election demonstrated a firm rejection of extreme left-wing policies, marking a significant Republican victory.
As Crowley explained:
“The lesson of this last 2024 election and Donald Trump’s landslide mandate victory is that the country has had enough of the radical Left, it’s had enough of socialism, it’s had enough of cancel culture and wokeness, and it rejected roundly all of those things. So, I don’t think in four short years the country is going to say, ‘We need more communism’.”
That being said, AOC is a much more interesting character than anyone else in the Democratic Party right now. Might that be good enough for her to win a presidential primary?
