AOC Comes Out Against Progressive Following Her Own Playbook

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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, issued a warning against primarying House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries after socialist New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé filed paperwork to challenge him.
Newsweek has contacted spokespersons for Ocasio-Cortez, Ossé and Jeffries for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Democrats are optimistic about their chances of retaking control of the House of Representatives in next year's midterms. If they do so, Jeffries, also a New York Democrat and the House minority leader, would be poised to become speaker. However, Jeffries has faced opposition from progressives back home who view him as too moderate for his Brooklyn-based district. His late endorsement of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani also drew backlash from some on the left.
What To Know
Ossé, a Jeffries critic, has filed paperwork to run for Congress against the House minority leader, according to the Federal Election Commission. However, some of the most prominent progressives in New York, such as Ocasio-Cortez, are holding out support.
The congresswoman told Axios that she was "not aware" of the primary challenge.
"But I certainly don't think a primary challenge to the leader is a good idea right now," Ocasio-Cortez said. She did not say whether she would support other primary challenges to more moderate Democrats.
The representative herself rose to prominence by challenging an incumbent Democrat deemed too centrist for his district. In 2018, she unseated Representative Joe Crowley, who at the time was serving as the chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He had been viewed as a potential future speaker and a possible successor to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat.
Ocasio-Cortez's remarks have drawn criticism from some on the left.
"Could've said something similar about Crowley in 2018," Emma Vigeland, a co-host of The Majority Report, wrote on X.
Ocasio-Cortez has also been floated as a potential challenger to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2028, as he has faced progressive criticism after Democrats caved on a bill to end the government shutdown and over his decision not to endorse Mamdani. Ocasio-Cortez has not said whether she plans to run against him.
Mamdani, fresh off his victory earlier in November, has also thus far declined to say whether he will support Ossé. Politico reported that when asked about the potential challenge, the mayor-elect responded, "I ran to deliver on an affordability agenda, and that agenda continues to be my focus."
Joseph Viteritti, the Thomas Hunter professor of public policy at Hunter College, told Newsweek that their remarks indicate a "desire to work with mainstream Democrats to advance their progressive agenda."
"Jeffries, who could become majority leader in the House of Representatives, would be a key to that strategy," he said. "He, unlike Senators Schumer and Gillibrand from New York, did in fact endorse Mamdani's bid for City Hall, and he will be difficult to beat in his own bid for reelection."
What People Are Saying
Adam Green, a co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told Politico: "Especially at this moment, just after Mamdani's big victory and House Democrats holding firm during the shutdown fight, it is not the right moment to launch a primary challenge to Hakeem Jeffries."
Comedian Kate Willett wrote on X: "I think when deciding whether or not to support DSA taking on this primary challenge, keep in mind it'll be DSA alone. No AOC. No Zohran. No Bernie. No WFP. No other progressive orgs. That will be very different from the Zohran race, yes."
Journalist James Li wrote on X: "AOC is the new Pelosi."
What Happens Next
While Ossé has filed paperwork for a possible run, he has not formally launched his campaign. How competitive the primary for New York's 8th Congressional District will become remains to be seen.