Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D‑NY) had the largest fundraising quarter of her political career, hauling in nearly $10 million across the first three months of the year as she tours the country with left-wing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I‑VT).
Ocasio-Cortez, who represents a solid-blue district in New York, handily outraised almost every House member last cycle, including those in the most competitive seats. She came in as the seventh-highest fundraiser, funneling more than $15 million into her war chest.
The $9.6 million she’s raised so far this year came from 266,000 individuals who donated an average of $21, with 64% being first-time donors, according to her campaign manager. The total more than doubles her last fundraising record for a single quarter.
“I cannot convey enough how grateful I am to the millions of people supporting us with your time, resources, & energy,” the congresswoman wrote on X. “Your support has allowed us to rally people together at record scale to organize their communities.”
The 35-year-old congresswoman has established herself as a progressive voice for the Democratic Party, most recently attending a series of “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies with Sanders. Her latest stop was in Los Angeles, where Sanders organizers estimated 34,000 people were in attendance.
Ocasio-Cortez has signaled that she wants to move up the ranks in the House, where she unsuccessfully ran to be the top Democrat on the powerful Oversight Committee. But she has frequently been mentioned as a possible candidate for president or challenger to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) in 2028 as well.
In a poll released earlier this month, Ocasio-Cortez led Schumer by double digits in a hypothetical Senate matchup.
HOW SCOTT BESSENT GOT TRUMP ‘OVER THE FINISH LINE’ ON TARIFF PAUSE
The poll showed 55% of likely Democratic voters were inclined to support Ocasio-Cortez, while 36% lean toward Schumer. Nine percent remain undecided, according to the survey commissioned by the left-wing firm Data for Progress. The margin of error for the poll was plus or minus four percentage points.
The call for Ocasio-Cortez to primary the longtime Senate Democrat came after Schumer handed Republicans the votes to keep the government open earlier this year, prompting calls for him to step down from leadership.