Conservative strategist Scott Jennings on Wednesday cast Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as the natural successor to Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) socialist movement within the Democratic Party, a force he argued is reshaping the party's energy and primary dynamics.
“She is the heir to the Sanders socialist movement. She is clearly the inspirational leader of that movement. That energy in the Democratic Party is on the move, and that's helpful in some primaries,” Jennings said during an appearance on CNN's “NewsNight with Abby Phillip.”
Ocasio-Cortez, 36, has long been a leading progressive voice, aligning herself with democratic socialism just as Sanders has. Yet she has recently sought to distance herself from certain candidates and positions backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, a group that has seen several primary victories this summer.
In a Sunday interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Ocasio-Cortez referenced a phrase from New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé, referring to certain progressive stances as “Woke 1.” She clarified that this term encapsulates Democrats' pandemic-era policy positions, which she said were “quite fruitful” then but are not part of today's political messaging.
The “Woke 1” label, as she applied it, includes calls to defund the police and abolish prisons—positions that gained traction after George Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis police officer. Ocasio-Cortez, who once supported the defund movement, has since backed away from that rhetoric. She also cited Francesca Hong, the Democratic nominee for Wisconsin governor, whose past statements—such as abolishing prisons and canceling Thanksgiving—were part of the “Woke 1” phase. Ocasio-Cortez noted Hong has since “moved away from it.”
Jennings, however, was skeptical that such a pivot would be enough for a general election. “To be viable in a national general election, you would have to get away from 'Woke 1' and try to laugh it off, although I don't think that tactic is going to be successful,” he said Wednesday.
Ocasio-Cortez's positioning has fueled speculation about a potential presidential bid in 2028, with her name often mentioned alongside figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. She has not ruled out a White House run, and early betting markets already show her edging past Newsom.
The progressive movement's influence is being tested in upcoming primaries, as Midwest primaries put the progressive movement to the test. Meanwhile, some commentators see the Democratic Socialists as reviving the party's New Deal roots, even as others, like Paul Begala, express disdain for the group's growing clout.
As Ocasio-Cortez navigates her role as a progressive icon while eyeing broader electability, her every move—from policy stances to personal choices—draws scrutiny. Her recent comments on “Woke 1” and her careful distancing from the DSA's more radical elements suggest a strategic recalibration as she considers her political future.
