Joe Crowley Throws Shade on AOC’s Presidential Prospects

Joe Crowley, the former Democratic congressman who famously lost his New York seat to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez back in 2018, is now casting some serious doubt on AOC’s chances as a national candidate. Appearing on national television, Crowley questioned whether Ocasio-Cortez could really attract moderates and Republicans if she ever set her sights on the presidency.

Crowley noted that while AOC is a "great talent" and has a strong connection with the Democratic base, it’s unclear if her appeal goes much further. He pointed out that the party needs a presidential contender in 2028 who can "go beyond" hardcore supporters and win over the elusive middle—and even some Republicans.

He compared her approach to that of Bernie Sanders, saying both are effective at rallying progressives, but the real challenge is getting moderates on board. "In order to win many of these seats in the House of Representatives, we need to go beyond our base," Crowley emphasized. "We have to actually appeal to some Republicans to cross over and vote for a Democrat." Now that’s a tall order, especially given AOC’s headline-grabbing positions on issues like Medicare for all, free college, and abolishing ICE. If you’re looking to win over the average suburban Republican, those policies might not be the secret sauce.

Despite speculation swirling around AOC’s future ambitions, including predictions from big-name pollsters like Nate Silver that she could be the Democratic nominee in 2028, Ocasio-Cortez hasn’t made any official moves toward a presidential run. But in politics, sometimes the silence is as loud as the campaign ads.