Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) recently teased a potential 2028 presidential bid on social media, joking about a hypothetical poll showing her leading Vice President JD Vance with the word “Bloop!”

In recent months, reports have emerged that AOC is considering a run for higher office, either the White House or the U.S. Senate. Her team has been preparing her for a presidential or Senate campaign in 2028, when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces re-election and Democrats aim to regain control of the presidency.

AOC has enlisted former senior advisors from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ orbit as she navigates her political future and has joined Sanders on his national “Fighting Oligarchy” tour earlier this year. During a town hall event in Plattsburgh, N.Y., AOC emphasized that every community matters: “Plattsburgh, we are here because every town, every city, every neighborhood in this state matters. Every corner matters. No one deserves to be ignored.”

Some close allies suggest that even if AOC does not believe she can win the 2028 Democratic primary, she may still seek the presidency to ensure progressive representation within the party, similar to how Bernie Sanders ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016.