Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing a major career decision.
What Ocasio-Cortez decides could help shape the future of the Democrat Party.
And now Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may quit Congress for one reason that made Democrats panic.
Ever since Ocasio-Cortez entered the House of Representatives speculation swirled around her future.
Ocasio-Cortez played into telling reporters that she never saw herself being a lifer in the House.
Now with New York Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand facing re-election next year Ocasio-Cortez isn’t even pretending she isn’t interested in challenging Gillibrand in a primary.
In an interview with POLITICO Ocasio-Cortez said, “don’t ask me that question … print that,” when pressed about her desire to run against Gillibrand next year.
Ocasio-Cortez then claimed she could also retire from Congress or run for higher office — which would mean a Senate or presidential campaign.
“There’s a world where I’m here for a long time in this seat, in this position. There’s a world where I’m not an elected official anymore. There’s a world where … I may be in higher office,” she said.
Leftists were thrilled at the idea of Ocasio-Cortez running for Senate.
“She could do it. Oh, my God, could she do it,” New York City-based Democratic consultant Ryan Adams told POLITICO.
“If she ran for Senate the fundraising that would come in from all around the country would easily make her competitive. And nobody campaigns like her. Everyone would come out,” Adams added. “The apparatus that would spring up around her would be unstoppable. People would fly in from other states to volunteer with her.”
For her part Gillibrand — who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton after the Senate confirmed Clinton as Barack Obama’s secretary of state — said she is running for a third full term.
“I love being senator of New York, and I think my ability to deliver for our state has never been greater,” Gillibrand stated.
Ocasio-Cortez could theoretically also run for president if Joe Biden passes on seeking re-election.
The New York congresswoman turns 35 — and thus would meet the constitutional age requirement to serve as president — in 2024.
Biden keeps pushing back his planned timetable to announce a re-election campaign.
Initially it was thought Biden would launch his re-election bid after the State of the Union in February.
Then the Biden team leaked that Biden would announce his bid for a second term in April.
Now the rumored launch date for Biden 2024 is August.
But the longer Biden keeps delaying his re-election launch the more Democrats will begin to think Biden is not going to run.
And in that case, one of the few Democrats who could quickly raise the money and build support with the base to mount a credible campaign is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
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