Far-Left Ocasio-Cortez is becoming shockingly moderate. Must be planning a 2028 run!
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most outspoken figures on the far left, is setting off alarms across progressive circles after backing a Democrat whose positions look strikingly… Republican.
In a fundraising email sent this week, the Democratic Socialist from New York urged supporters to split a small donation between her political organization and Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola.
At first glance, the pitch sounded familiar — promises to lower grocery prices, expand affordable housing, and fight for “systemic change.” But what was left out of the appeal is what has conservatives doing a double take.
A Pro-Gun, Pro-Oil Democrat?
Peltola brands her priorities as “fish, family, and freedom.” She was also the only Democrat endorsed by the National Rifle Association in 2024 — an almost unthinkable distinction for candidates typically supported by Ocasio-Cortez.
For gun owners and energy workers, that endorsement alone sets Peltola apart from the modern Democratic Party.
Now 52, Peltola previously won Alaska’s lone House seat in a 2022 special election, defeating former Governor Sarah Palin. She later lost re-election in 2024 to Republican Nick Begich.
Breaking With the Green Left
While serving in Congress, Peltola repeatedly bucked the environmental activist wing of her party.
She pushed the Biden administration to allow Arctic oil development and publicly praised approval of ConocoPhillips’ massive $8 billion Willow Project, a move fiercely opposed by climate activists.
Her campaign also benefited from significant spending tied to major energy interests, including Chevron and ConocoPhillips-aligned groups — despite claims in fundraising materials that neither campaign relies on corporate money.
Why Is AOC Doing This?
The endorsement represents a sharp break from Ocasio-Cortez’s usual alliances. In the past, she has focused her fundraising firepower on fellow progressive figures like Jamaal Bowman, Ilhan Omar, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Political analysts believe this move may be less about Alaska — and more about AOC herself.
By backing a culturally moderate, pro-energy Democrat, Ocasio-Cortez may be signaling she’s trying to reshape her image ahead of a possible statewide run.
A Senate Strategy?
Attention has increasingly turned to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who will be 78 when his term ends in 2028 and has posted surprisingly weak fundraising numbers compared to Ocasio-Cortez’s record-breaking totals.
For Ocasio-Cortez to compete statewide in New York, she would need to win over moderate Democrats — exactly the type of voters who might find Mary Peltola appealing.
Backing Peltola now helps build those internal alliances.
What’s at Stake in Alaska
Peltola is currently challenging Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who is seeking a third term. Early polling shows a tight race, explaining why national Democrats are eager to invest heavily.
Still, for many conservatives, the moment is revealing.
When power is on the line, even the loudest voices of the progressive left appear willing to embrace guns, oil, and moderation — at least temporarily.
And that raises a question voters should be asking:
If Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is backing candidates like this… how far has the party really moved?
