Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive Democratic congresswoman, has refused to rule out a potential run against the party’s Senate leader Chuck Schumer amid mounting speculation around her political ambitions.

When asked by the New York Times whether she would challenge Schumer in 2028, when his current term is up, Ocasio-Cortez declined to exclude the possibility – even if Democrats win back the Senate majority.

“We’re working hard to have that problem,” Ocasio-Cortez, 36, told the newspaper of a Democratic majority in the Senate, which she called called “the best possible problem we could have as a country”, adding: “And I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

The New York congresswoman emphasized that any decision she makes would be personal, saying: “I don’t think that my decisions would come down to deference.”

Ocasio-Cortez has been repeatedly cited as a potential challenger to Schumer, 75, an even a Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. She has built a significant profile since defeating a top incumbent Democrat to win her seat in the House of Representatives, representing an area of New York City, in 2018.

Her progressive policies have resonated with younger Democrats, women and Hispanic voters, according to recent polling from the New York Times/Siena University. She has become a leading figure in rallying anti-Donald Trump voters.

She has also raised more money than many of her House colleagues, securing more than $32m since 2025. As of June 2026, Ocasio-Cortez had more than $15m in cash, according to Federal Election Commission data.

But Ocasio-Cortez is also polarizing, with roughly 41% of likely voters and 75% of Republicans finding her unfavorable. That combination has made her an easy target for Republican attacks, particularly from the US president.

Though her name is floated as a potential 2028 presidential contender, Ocasio-Cortez has been elusive about her plans, often leaving the door open to a run while acknowledging the hurdles she faces.

“I’m not naïve to the fact that we are living under a very regressive administration, and I happen to be a woman, and I, you know, happen to be Latina,” Ocasio-Cortez told the New York Times. “And I think that there’s a lot of conversation about electability, and I don’t kind of shy away from those realities.”

Taking on Schumer could be Ocasio-Cortez’s first step to fulfilling greater political ambitions.

Earlier this year, a survey from the liberal firm Data for Progress found that 55% of likely Democratic voters said they would support or lean toward supporting Ocasio-Cortez, while only 36% would back Schumer.