Here’s their alleged plan.
A political strategist closely associated with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has revealed a surprising ambition for the Democratic Party’s future, and it involves putting one of Washington’s most prominent progressive lawmakers in the White House.
Andrew Epstein, a former key figure in Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, says he believes the Democratic Socialists of America should pursue control of the Democratic Party by supporting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York for president in 2028.
His remarks are drawing attention because they suggest that some members of the socialist movement have ambitions extending far beyond New York City politics.
The proposed strategy could also set the stage for a significant political battle over the direction of the Democratic Party.
Mamdani Campaign Insider Reveals Bigger Political Goal
Epstein, 38, outlined his political ambitions during an interview with the Belgian newspaper De Tijd, according to an October 28 report from the New York Post.
The former campaign strategist said he believes the Democratic Socialists of America should attempt to reshape the Democratic Party from within.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on local elections or individual congressional races, Epstein wants the movement to pursue the nation’s highest political office.
His preferred candidate is Ocasio-Cortez, who has become one of the leading voices of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.
Epstein believes her political following could provide a foundation for a national presidential campaign.
He also pointed to President Donald Trump’s transformation of the Republican Party as an example of how a successful presidential candidate can change an established political organization.
The comparison is significant because it illustrates how Epstein envisions using a presidential election to produce lasting changes in Democratic leadership and policy.
However, Epstein later clarified that he was expressing his personal opinions and was not speaking on behalf of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Could Become Central To 2028 Election
Ocasio-Cortez has not announced plans to seek the presidency in 2028.
Nevertheless, speculation about her political future has increased as Democrats consider who might emerge as the party’s next national leader.
Since entering Congress in 2019, the New York lawmaker has attracted national attention through her positions on healthcare, climate change, taxation, government spending, and economic policy.
Her supporters view her as an influential advocate for working-class Americans and a politician capable of energizing younger voters.
Critics question whether her policy positions would appeal to the moderate and independent voters often needed to win closely contested presidential elections.
Those questions could become increasingly important if she decides to enter the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.
For now, Epstein’s comments demonstrate that some socialist activists see her as a potential vehicle for expanding their influence nationwide.
Socialist Movement Builds Momentum After Mamdani Victory
Epstein’s political ambitions come after a series of significant election victories involving candidates associated with democratic socialism.
Mamdani’s successful campaign for New York City mayor brought national attention to the movement and showed how progressive candidates could defeat more established political figures.
His primary victory over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was particularly noteworthy because Cuomo entered the contest with considerably greater name recognition.
Epstein served as a spokesperson and creative strategist during Mamdani’s successful Democratic primary campaign.
He later took on a less prominent public role during the general election.
Since then, Epstein has also been involved in the congressional campaign of Claire Valdez, a Democratic socialist who won her primary in New York’s Seventh Congressional District.
Valdez and fellow socialist candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier are seeking seats in Congress in the November 3 midterm elections.
Both are competing in heavily Democratic districts, making them strong favorites heading into Election Day.
Their success could strengthen the influence of the Democratic Socialists of America within the House of Representatives.
Could Socialists Reshape The Democratic Party?
The broader political significance of Epstein’s comments involves the relationship between the Democratic Party’s traditional leadership and its increasingly influential progressive activists.
For years, Democratic candidates have debated how aggressively the federal government should intervene in healthcare, housing, taxation, education, and the economy.
Democratic socialists generally favor a larger public role in providing essential services and addressing economic inequality.
Supporters argue that those policies could make housing, medical care, and other necessities more affordable.
Opponents question the cost of such proposals, their potential impact on taxpayers, and whether expanded government programs would produce the promised benefits.
These disagreements could become central issues during the next presidential campaign.
A candidate closely associated with democratic socialism would likely face scrutiny over federal spending, tax policy, private business investment, and the appropriate role of government in everyday life.
Those issues could prove especially consequential as Americans continue evaluating economic conditions and their household finances.
Gavin Newsom Acknowledges Growing Progressive Influence
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another prominent Democrat frequently mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, has also discussed the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Newsom has indicated that the movement’s demand for substantial political change could play an increasingly important role in Democratic politics.
His observations underscore a broader challenge facing Democratic leaders.
The party must balance the priorities of progressive activists with those of moderate Democrats and voters who may not identify with democratic socialism.
That balancing act could become particularly difficult during a competitive presidential primary.
Candidates seeking the Democratic nomination may face pressure to embrace ambitious economic proposals while also demonstrating that their policies can appeal to a broader national electorate.
The outcome could help determine whether the party moves further toward its progressive wing or maintains a more traditional political approach.
Public Opinion Could Present Major Challenge
Despite recent victories by democratic socialist candidates, public attitudes toward socialism remain mixed.
A New York Times/Siena survey cited in the reporting found that 51% of American voters held an unfavorable view of socialism.
That finding suggests that a presidential candidate closely associated with the socialist movement could face significant obstacles in a national election.
Epstein, however, believes changing generational attitudes could benefit the movement over time.
He argued that younger Americans who experienced the economic uncertainty surrounding the 2008 financial crisis may have different views about capitalism and government intervention than older generations.
His argument reflects a belief among some progressive organizers that economic frustration has created opportunities for political movements seeking substantial changes to established institutions.
Whether those attitudes translate into lasting electoral success remains uncertain.
A national presidential election requires support across numerous states, including politically competitive regions where voters may have different priorities from those in strongly Democratic congressional districts.
Trump’s Republican Party Transformation Becomes Political Model
One of the most striking aspects of Epstein’s remarks was his reference to President Trump’s influence over the Republican Party.
Trump’s emergence as a national political leader significantly changed the Republican Party’s positions on issues such as trade, immigration, and economic nationalism.
His political success also demonstrated the influence that a presidential candidate can exercise over party leadership and the direction of future elections.
Epstein believes a similar transformation could occur within the Democratic Party if a candidate aligned with democratic socialism wins the presidency.
That comparison highlights the scale of his ambitions.
Rather than simply increasing the number of progressive lawmakers in Congress, Epstein envisions a political movement capable of determining the party’s national agenda.
Still, considerable uncertainty surrounds that possibility.
The Democratic Socialists of America contains different ideological factions, and its members have disagreed over whether Ocasio-Cortez should receive the organization’s full support.
Those internal disagreements could make a coordinated presidential effort more complicated than Epstein suggests.
What This Could Mean For The 2028 Presidential Election
The 2028 presidential election remains more than two years away, and the Democratic field has yet to take shape.
Ocasio-Cortez has made no formal announcement about seeking the White House, and Epstein’s comments do not establish that the Democratic Socialists of America has adopted an official presidential strategy.
Nevertheless, the discussion surrounding her potential candidacy reflects a larger debate about the future of American politics.
Some progressive activists are increasingly interested in expanding their influence beyond Congress and local government.
At the same time, traditional Democratic leaders must determine how to address that movement while maintaining support among voters with more moderate political views.
The approaching midterm elections could provide an early indication of which political strategies are gaining momentum.
For voters following developments in Washington, the debate also raises broader questions about taxes, federal spending, healthcare policy, and the future role of government.
Those subjects are likely to remain central to national political discussions regardless of who ultimately enters the 2028 presidential race.
The central takeaway is that a former Mamdani campaign strategist has publicly identified Ocasio-Cortez as his preferred candidate for a much larger political transformation. Whether that vision becomes reality will depend on decisions that Democratic voters, party leaders, and Ocasio-Cortez herself have yet to make.