More Americans have a positive image of progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, than they do of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to new polling data.
Why It Matters
Ocasio-Cortez has been seen as a polarizing figure in politics and within the Democratic Party. She has drawn backlash from moderate Democrats and Republicans alike since she surged onto the national stage after an upset primary victory against a powerful incumbent Democrat in 2018.
The New York progressive has embraced the Democratic socialist label, despite pushback from within her own party. Recently, she has traveled around the country holding massive rallies with progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, with the duo turning out thousands—including in conservative districts and states.
What to Know
New polling released Friday by AtlasIntel—which has been described by election analyst Nate Silver as “top-rated,” and was described as the most accurate pollster of the 2024 and 2020 elections—showed Ocasio-Cortez ranked third among politicians included in the survey, in terms of Americans who had a positive view of her. The congresswoman was also one of just three political leaders with an overall net positive image.
The New York Democrat was viewed positively by 46 percent of respondents, compared to 44 percent that viewed her negatively—meaning her net positive rating was above water by 2 points. An additional 10 percent of respondents said they didn’t know.
Only former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama ranked higher than the congresswoman. Barack Obama was viewed positively by 53 percent compared to 43 percent who viewed him negatively. Michelle Obama was 49 percent positive and 45 percent negative.
Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez was ahead of Trump and Harris, as well as Vice President JD Vance and former President Joe Biden. Trump was viewed positively by 44 percent, Vance by 42 percent, Harris by 42 percent and Biden by 37 percent. Respectively the politicians were viewed negatively by 55 percent, 56 percent, 52 percent and 55 percent.
The poll included 3,469 respondents and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. It was carried out from May 21 through May 27.
Speculation has swirled in recent months about Ocasio-Cortez’s political future, especially as she has rallied with Sanders across the country. Many have urged her to consider challenging Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, in the 2028 primary, while others see her as a strong Democratic presidential contender.
What People Are Saying
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Fox News in April when asked about her future plans: “This moment isn’t about campaigns, or elections, or about politics. It’s about making sure people are protected, and we’ve got people that are getting locked up for exercising their First Amendment rights. We’re getting 2-year-olds that are getting deported into cells in Honduras. We’re getting people that are about to get kicked off of Medicaid. That, to me, is most important.”
D. Stephen Voss, political science professor at the University of Kentucky, previously told Newsweek via email: “AOC serves as the face of the Democratic Party for many Trump supporters who dislike national Democrats. They like to pillory her as ignorant and irresponsible.”
Voss continued: “At the same time, many Democrats embrace AOC as a worthy young successor to Bernie, someone who can play the role of progressive challenger in a Democratic nomination battle.”
Monica Crowley, a former official in the Treasury Department during the first Trump administration, told Fox News last November: “Just a word of warning to the Republicans, to my party: Do not underestimate AOC. She’s young, she’s vibrant, she’s attractive.”
What Happens Next?
Ocasio-Cortez’s future political moves remain to be seen. For the time being, she has said she aims to focus on fighting back against the Trump administration.
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