Vance Believes AOC Will Be Leading Democratic Presidential Candidate in 2028

During an interview on “The Michael Knowles Show” released Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance stated that he believes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will be the leading Democratic candidate for president in 2028.

“I think it’s got to be AOC. I know that’s probably conventional wisdom,” Vance said.

Dismissing Gavin Newsom and Jon Ossoff

When the host countered that conventional wisdom points more toward California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Vance pushed back. He referenced a comment Newsom made at a book promotion event in Atlanta, where the California governor told an audience full of Black Americans:

“I’m not trying to impress you. I’m just trying to impress upon you. I’m like you. I’m no better than you, you know, I’m a 960 SAT guy … you’ve never seen me read a speech, because I can’t read a speech.”

Vance argued that Newsom hurt his political standing with those remarks, characterizing them as telling the audience, "I’m low IQ, just like you."

When pressed on whether Ocasio-Cortez would outpace Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, Vance stated that the outcome will depend on where power is held within the Democratic Party. Ossoff has generated buzz as a potential presidential contender, though he faces an immediate challenge holding onto his Senate seat in the upcoming midterms.

Vance broke down the party's internal divide as follows:

• Wall Street and the left-of-center business community: If they hold the power, the candidate will be Ossoff.

• The universities: If they hold the power, the candidate will be Ocasio-Cortez.

Vance further argued that Democrats are “just so dominated by the crazy people,” adding, “It’s like they can’t figure out the part where they get the economic populism, which actually is very popular, and I think Republicans should be more worried about that.”

Responses and GOP Posturing

When asked by CNN about Vance’s predictions, Ocasio-Cortez smiled and responded, “I hope he is” the nominee.

Vance himself is regarded as a possible leading GOP candidate for the 2028 presidential race. Donald Trump has openly mused about whether Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio might eventually succeed him.

In recent days, Trump has focused his attention on the Democrats’ left flank, seizing on the electoral success of multiple democratic socialist candidates to claim the party is being taken over by “godless Communists” who pose an existential threat to the nation.