Senator Bernie Sanders said this week that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would be a “formidable” presidential candidate in 2028, calling her an authentic leader who connects deeply with working people and represents the growing strength of the progressive movement.
Speaking on The Axios Show with host Alex Thompson, Sanders (I-Vt.) was asked whether Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) would be a strong contender in the next open Democratic presidential primary. “I think she would,” Sanders replied. He added that her future political choices are entirely “her decision to make.”
Sanders also noted that Ocasio-Cortez has been floated as a potential challenger to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in 2026. But he emphasized that whatever path she chooses, her connection with voters and her ability to communicate a clear working-class message make her a rare political talent.
“I’ve been out on the streets with her, people come up, and how she responds to people is so incredibly genuine and open,” Sanders said. “It’s just something that’s a gift that she has. It’s a quality that she has, she’s a great speaker out there.”
Sanders said that Ocasio-Cortez’s authenticity stems from her background and her deep understanding of the struggles faced by ordinary Americans. “She comes from the working class, she was a kid who was cleaning houses with her mother,” he said. “She knows what it’s like not to have any money and she’s going out, fighting for working families all over this country.”
While progressive victories are often dismissed by centrist Democrats and Republicans as limited to urban districts, Sanders pointed to Ocasio-Cortez’s ability to draw large, enthusiastic audiences in conservative and rural areas. The New York congresswoman joined Sanders earlier this year on his Fighting Oligarchy Tour, where the pair spoke to thousands about economic inequality, labor rights, and corporate power.
“She comes from the working class,” Sanders reiterated. “When she was a kid, she was cleaning houses with her mother. She knows what it’s like not to have any money.” He called her “an incredibly intelligent person and—in the best sense of the word—a very, very good politician.”
Sanders said his optimism about the country’s political future extends beyond Ocasio-Cortez to a new generation of progressive lawmakers who are transforming the Democratic Party’s agenda. “I do want to say, it’s not just Alexandria,” he said. “You’ve got a lot of great young people right now in the Progressive Caucus in the House… I mean literally dozens… And that gives me a lot of optimism about our political future.”
He named Representatives Greg Casar of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Florida as among those carrying the progressive mantle forward. Sanders said these lawmakers “put the working class first” and represent a clear shift in who the Democratic Party serves.
Sanders also discussed Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, a progressive challenger in a crowded primary field that includes Governor Janet Mills, as Democrats aim to unseat Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine). Platner, an oyster farmer and veteran, has faced controversy over old Reddit posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that he has since covered with another image. Sanders defended Platner, describing the media focus on the controversy as misplaced.
“I’m not overly impressed by a squad of media running around saying, ‘What do you think about the tattoo on Graham Platner’s chest?’” Sanders said. “Between you and me, there might be one or two more important issues.”
Sanders went on to describe Platner’s background and personal growth after military service. “He went through some very difficult experiences in the military,” Sanders said. “Seeing his friends killed… He went to the VA and by the way, he says they rebuilt his life. He went into a dark period in his life. I suspect that Graham Platner is not the only American to have gone through a dark period.”
“The guy that I saw up on the stage in Portland, Maine, rather a brilliant guy,” Sanders continued. “Really a strong fighter for the working class, very articulate, very smart and what he said is, ‘Yeah, I went through a dark period and said stupid things. I am not the person that I was back then.’”
Sanders said the broader lesson from Platner’s experience—and from the national political climate—is the need for compassion and accountability, rather than permanent condemnation. “And I think as a nation,” he said, “especially given the fact that we have a president who was convicted of 34 felonies, maybe we have to do a little bit of forgiveness.”
Sanders’ comments reflect both the challenges and opportunities for progressives as they prepare for the next generation of leadership. Ocasio-Cortez’s rise from working-class roots to national prominence has reshaped the political conversation around economic justice, climate action, and labor rights. Her potential candidacy in 2028 underscores the shifting balance within the Democratic Party, where younger lawmakers and grassroots movements are increasingly driving policy debates once dominated by centrists.
As Sanders put it, “You’ve got a lot of great young people right now in the Progressive Caucus… And that gives me a lot of optimism about our political future.”
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