AOC was a draw in Democratic primaries. But as candidates turn toward November, some have decided she would draw the wrong kind of attention.
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According to Axios, Democrats in competitive congressional races have asked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s team to stay away. On strategist working in a swing district described her polling as “atrocious” and called her a “lightning rod.”
So, while AOC can energize progressive voters when Democrats are choosing among Democrats, in a close general election, her presence can give Republicans an easy way to make the race about the party’s left wing.
First, there’s Sam Forstag in Montana. Ocasio-Cortez rallied with him during the primary, but he told Axios he does not plan to bring in many campaigners from out of state before November. Her endorsement has also disappeared from his campaign website.
In Michigan, Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed made extensive use of her in his primary campaign. Since winning the nomination, however, he has spent almost nothing on ads featuring her, Axios reports. His campaign says it would welcome her back, so he has not disowned her. Still, the change in advertising speaks volumes about how his campaign sees the general-election audience.
And in New York’s 17th Congressional District, Democratic nominee Cait Conley has said she will not campaign with AOC. Republican incumbent Mike Lawler would apparently love to see her there: He has invited her to visit, while a Republican super PAC is running an ad trying to link the two Democrats.
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Ocasio-Cortez denies that actions such as Lawler’s have any effect. She has campaigned for other Democrats, including Rep. Josh Riley in New York. That said, candidates facing the toughest contests are less eager to share a stage with her.
There is nothing unusual about campaigns changing their emphasis after a primary. But this particular change exposes a tension Democrats will have to resolve. Progressive activists want candidates who champion their ideas without apology. Candidates in swing states must also persuade voters who did not take part in a Democrat primary.
This cold shoulder now could have implications for AOC in 2028, Axios notes. If she seeks the presidential nomination, she’ll likely point to her intra-party appeal. Republicans, on the other hand, will note all the Dem candidates who preferred to campaign without her when the votes were hardest to win.
Greg Richter is a journalist and editor with more than 40 years of experience. He is the editor and curator of Drawing Near: A 30-Day Journey Into the Presence of God.