Is There a Left Candidate for President?

The race to secure the left's presidential nomination for the 2028 election has begun, prompting progressives to ponder, "Who will lead the left's charge in the future presidential contest?" Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) appears to be the frontrunner, having expressed her intention to potentially run. She has been campaigning alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in support of midterms and populism.

However, Democratic strategists argue that Ocasio-Cortez might find it easier to take Schumer's New York Senate seat in 2028, or even retire at the age of 75.

The absence of a clear progressive candidate capable of mounting a robust campaign has left the left vulnerable, potentially squandering the momentum gained from the democratic socialist wave during the 2018 primaries and the subsequent campaigns across the political spectrum. Ocasio-Cortez's former spokesperson, Lauren Hitt, asserts that it would be misguided for the candidate to enter the race simply because no one else is running in the progressive lane.

Instead, Hitt believes that Ocasio-Cortez should focus on building up the progressive bench rather than ensuring another candidate enters the race.

Several candidates are vying for the progressive nomination, including Cory Booker (NJ), Pete Buttigieg (former Transportation Secretary), Kamala Harris (former nominee), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Josh Shapiro (recently reelected Pennsylvania governor), Jon Ossoff (Georgia senator), and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who is the most progressive among them.

Despite his progressive views and support for an anti-interventionist foreign policy, Khanna remains skeptical among leftists due to his personal wealth and his defense of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. The focus of progressive candidates is expected to be on economic populism, using the principles of the blue version to counter the right-wing populism that fueled Trump's rise.