Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York was directly asked during a live CNN Town Hall if she plans to run against Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a potential primary race.
Newsweek reached out to Schumer’s office via email Wednesday night for comment.
Why It Matters
Amid heightened tensions over the federal government shutdown and key procedural votes, increasing speculation surrounds whether Ocasio-Cortez will mount a primary challenge against Schumer in 2028.
Polling earlier this year suggests she leads Schumer in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, underscoring the surging calls within the Democratic base for a new generation of leadership and a more confrontational approach to Republican initiatives.
What To Know
Speaking on the ongoing government shutdown during a CNN Town Hall on Wednesday night alongside independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Ocasio-Cortez was asked about comments Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said about Schumer.
“We actually heard from House Speaker Mike Johnson today on Chuck Schumer, he said he’s supporting the shutdown to prevent a primary challenge from his left wing. Do you think that’s what’s driving Senator Schumer here?” CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked.
“No, absolutely not,” Ocasio-Cortez replied. “It’s such an insane suggestion, and in fact, it speaks to how desperate they are.”
“Mike Johnson’s been saying this, John Thune’s been saying this, they are saying this because they are refusing to do their job. They’re grasping for straws. They’re trying to make this about political tabloids and political intrigue and horse races, exactly the kinds of things that people are sick of in this country,” Ocasio-Cortez continued.
The congresswomen later said, “It is honestly astonishing to me that the speaker of the House would waste his time on something so inane and silly instead of actually worrying about his own constituents who are suffering at the hands of his leadership.”
Collins quickly followed up, asking, “But are you saying that Senator Schumer should not be worried about a primary challenge from you?”
“I, no. Because I don’t think this is about … anything … this is what we’re talking about!” Ocasio-Cortez responded. Sanders quickly jumped in, saying that the country is “falling apart” and this is what the media wants to talk about. “Nobody cares,” Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez responded.
Sanders noted that the “real issues” in the country are minimum wage, health care, paid family and medical leave, homelessness, climate change and “oligarchs” in the country. “Let’s talk about that issue, not her own political future, she’ll decide that,” the senator said.
What People Are Saying
Johnson, on X earlier this month: “Just six months ago, Chuck Schumer voted for this same clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution, and insisted we could not possibly shut the government down because it would be so destructive! But now, solely because he’s afraid of a Marxist primary challenge in NY—he’s REVERSED his position. It’s selfish. It’s foolish. And it’s hurting real Americans.”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson, on X Wednesday: “Bernie x AOC ‘shutdown town hall’ is an abject disaster for Dems. They’re off message w Dem leadership, they keep changing their far-left demands, and AOC refuses to say she won’t primary Chuck Schumer.”
Republican Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson, on X this month: “Chuck Schumer is keeping the government shut down because he’s TERRIFIED of a primary challenge from AOC. She would CRUSH him in an election! He’s doing everything he can to pander to the far left and fool the American people. Chuck and the far left don’t care about our troops, farmers, or anyone else who is being affected right now. END THE SCHUMER SHUTDOWN!!”
Schumer, on X Wednesday: “If Republicans continue to ignore the healthcare crisis they’ve manufactured: People will go bankrupt People will get sick People will lose insurance People will fail to get the care they need and more people will needlessly die.”
What Happens Next
The circumstances surrounding the shutdown remain fluid, with both party leadership decisions and the fate of federal spending hinging on evolving negotiations and voter sentiment.
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