Ocasio-Cortez Gains More Power?

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand had been dealing with persistent concerns for several months regarding a possible challenge from her left during her upcoming re-election bid. The speculation had become so prevalent that some members of her party had begun to question whether she would even run again.

According to Politico, following her official announcement in January, the New York Democrat seems to be successfully removing any potential competition for her reelection bid.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who was considered one of Gillibrand’s strongest potential challengers, seems to have all but ruled out the possibility of a run.

Ocasio-Cortez becoming a U.S. Senator would be an absolute nightmare for Republicans.

Thankfully however, Lauren Hitt, spokesperson for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, confirmed to POLITICO that the Congresswoman has no plans to challenge Gillibrand in a primary or run for Senate in 2024.

It seems that other potential challengers have also chosen not to run. According to an anonymous source who was granted permission to speak candidly about internal discussions, former New York Rep. Mondaire Jones, a progressive, has decided not to run for Gillibrand’s seat in the upcoming election, despite considering it privately. Additionally, Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) have both informed POLITICO that they are not interested in pursuing the race.

Isaac Goldberg, a New York-based Democratic consultant, stated that there does not seem to be any enthusiasm at present for challenging Sen. Gillibrand, as she has been an effective representative for the state. He added that her efforts to safeguard abortion rights, advocate for paid and family leave, support workers’ rights, and promote a green economy align with the values of Democrats in New York.

It’s worth noting that political circumstances can change over time. Although Ocasio-Cortez’s current statement only indicates that she isn’t planning to run, rather than definitively ruling out a future bid, it remains the strongest and most decisive comment to date suggesting that a Senate campaign in 2024 is unlikely. If Ocasio-Cortez ultimately chooses to forego a Senate run, this would significantly ease Gillibrand’s path to reelection. Previously, some of Ocasio-Cortez’s former aides had speculated that she might run, adding to the uncertainty around the race.

The last thing America needs right now is Ocasio-Cortez in the Senate. Republicans are crossing their fingers and hoping that she doesn’t decide to challenge Gillibrand but there is no telling what AOC could do.