AOC says she'd 'stomp' Vance after polls shows her ahead of him in hypothetical 2028 race

WASHINGTON, DC: A new survey is stirring up 2028 buzz, shows Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) with a narrow edge over Vice President JD Vance in a hypothetical presidential race.

AOC, whose name keeps surfacing in early Democratic conversations about the next election cycle, pointed to the poll on Wednesday, December 17. A survey shows AOC slightly ahead, with 51 per cent of people supporting her.

She took to X (formerly Twitter) to react to the poll with a playful “Bloop!” When asked about the recent survey results, she added a bold comment, “I would stomp him!”

New survey shows Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez edge out JD Vance

This survey, conducted by The Argument and Verasight between December 5 and December 11, sampled 1,521 registered voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, as per The Hill. In a hypothetical general election matchup, the NY Democrat narrowly outpaces Vance.

Both AOC and Vance have been mentioned as potential contenders for 2028, which will mark the first presidential race after Donald Trump reaches the constitutional limit on holding the office. 

A recent Yale Youth Poll placed her well ahead among younger Democratic voters in a hypothetical primary, giving her a double-digit lead over Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and several other frequently discussed names.

Pablo Manríquez, editor of Migrant Insider, spoke with AOC outside the Capitol and asked about the recent survey. “Do you think that you could beat JD Vance in a head-to-head race for president, as polling suggests, in 2028?” he asked.

The lawmaker laughed and replied, “Listen, these polls, like three years out are, you know, they are what they are. But let the record show I would stomp him. I would stomp him!”

Potential candidates and poll percentages 

The poll paints a clear picture of where each potential contender draws support, and where the gaps remain. JD Vance holds a solid advantage among white voters. The survey found 57 per cent saying they would back him, compared with 43 per cent who would choose AOC.

However, AOC dominates among voters of color. She received overwhelming support from Black voters at 79 per cent and leads among Hispanic voters with 64 per cent backing her.

Well, Vance and Newsom remain the front-runners. Both have consistently led their respective fields among gamblers, placing legal wagers on the 2028 presidential race. On the Republican side, Vance is widely viewed as the early favorite for the 2028 nomination.

It’s exciting to see AOC entering the race and putting up strong competition. The big question now is, who will come out on top?