Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez didn’t mince words on Wednesday when asked about a hypothetical 2028 presidential showdown against Vice President JD Vance.
“Let the record show: I would stomp him. I would stomp him!” the New York Democrat told reporters on Dec. 17, laughing as she fielded questions about her political future.
The confidence comes on the heels of a new poll from Verasight and The Argument, which shows Ocasio-Cortez holding a narrow lead over Vance in a theoretical head-to-head race. The survey puts the congresswoman at 51% support compared to 49% for the vice president.
READ: ‘It’s Over’: James Carville Claims GOP No Longer Fears Trump Following House Revolt
Earlier in the day, Ocasio-Cortez, 36, shared the polling data on social media with the caption “Bloop!” When asked by The Independent why she chose to highlight the numbers, she offered a blunt assessment of her potential rival.
“Because JD Vance is a goober, man,” she said.
While the next presidential election cycle is still years away, speculation is already swirling around both figures as potential standard-bearers for their respective parties.
A September report from Axios indicated that Ocasio-Cortez’s team may be positioning her for a higher office in 2028, potentially eyeing a presidential bid or a primary challenge against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
READ: Green Light For Research: Trump Orders Fast-Track For Marijuana Rescheduling
On the Republican side, Vance, 41, is widely considered a frontrunner for the GOP nomination once President Donald Trump leaves office. Senator Marco Rubio told Vanity Fair that if Vance runs, “he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him.”
Vance has remained guarded about his specific plans. During a November interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, he said he tries to keep thoughts of 2028 “out of my head” to focus on his current duties, though he acknowledged he plans to “sit down with the president” after the midterm elections to discuss the future.
“If we do a good job, the politics will take care of itself,” Vance said.
Despite President Trump occasionally floating the idea of a third term, his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, recently pushed back on the notion. In an interview, Wiles said the president knows the 22nd Amendment limits him to two terms but enjoys bringing it up because it’s “driving people crazy.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
