Ted Cruz Predicts AOC Could Lead Democrats’ 2028 Presidential Ticket

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is already making predictions on presidential frontrunners for 2028, and he thinks progressive Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) could be one of them.

At a campaign event for Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers (R-MI) last week in Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., Sen. Cruz took several jabs at progressive opponent Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI). But he also made a prediction about the 2028 presidential race.

"I'll make a prediction: I believe if El-Sayed wins, the Democrat nominee for president in 2028 will be AOC," Sen. Cruz said, referring to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez.

Sen. Cruz later added that if she’s the Democratic nominee, “she could win.”

If El-Sayed wins in the midterm election on Tuesday, Sen. Cruz said he would pave the way for the progressive Congresswoman to launch her presidential campaign.

The Texas senator explained how El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat who would become the first Muslim senator if he wins the election, would pave the way for an AOC presidency. AOC has said she has not ruled out running for president.

"Look, in the primary, the number one argument against AOC is she's too extreme to win the general [election]," Sen. Cruz said. "If El-Sayed wins, [Democrats will] say, 'nope, you could nominate a moonbat and a swing-state will vote for her.’"

Sen. Cruz also pointed to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-NY), who won in November 2025 and has made national headlines for his progressive, democratic socialist policies. After Mamdani took office, several socialist candidates unseated long-term incumbents across the country.

Sen. Cruz said America is now a “divided country” with the wave of socialism across the Democratic Party.

"The eyes of the country are on Michigan,” he said.