AOC leading Schumer by double digits in NY primary matchup: poll

If radical, openly socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were to primary Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, she’d crush him in a heartbeat, according to a new poll.

Conducted by an obscure liberal firm known as Data for Progress, the poll found that 55 percent of Democratic likely voters would support or lean toward the more radical Ocasio-Cortez, whereas only 36 percent would back the more moderate Schumer, as reported by Politico.

The survey found that among Dem likely voters in the 2028 NY primary:
• 55% leaned AOC
• 36% leaned Schumer
• 9% undecided

This is just the latest sign that Schumer’s standing among the Dem base has taken a hit: https://t.co/zspFxPJxei

Francis Chung / POLITICO pic.twitter.com/AzZudThN7e

— POLITICO (@politico) April 4, 2025

Data for Progress’ poll also reportedly found that Schumer boasts the lowest favorability of any New York State Democrat.

The poll appears to be yet another sign that Schumer’s decision last month to work with congressional Republicans to prevent a government shutdown really aggravated the Democratic Party’s radicalized base.

“This poll really does show that Democrats are united in just wanting to stand up, wanting to fight, wanting to see someone taking a stand for them,” Data for Progress executive director Danielle Deiseroth said.

But how accurate is this pollster? After Data for Progress released a poll in 2021 showing that then-Sen. Kyrsten Sinema was likely to lose a primary challenge, the then-Democrat registered as an Independent and then effectively dropped out by not running for reelection.

What’s unclear, though, is whether an election battle between Ocasio-Cortez and Schumer will actually occur. While Schumer has filed paperwork to run for reelection, Ocasio-Cortez has refused to confirm whether she’s running against him or not.

“In a brief interview, Ocasio-Cortez declined to discuss a potential Senate bid, saying that her ‘central focus’ is ensuring that the Democratic Party stands up for working Americans and works to stop GOP budget cuts,” according to Politico.

“This is about the decisions that we made collectively and that we continue to make collectively as a party and a shift in strategy,” she said.

Plus, there’s been speculation that she may run for president.

AOC on list of potential presidential contenders sends X into a tailspin: ‘Scary to even think about’ https://t.co/M5onBpigIC via @BIZPACReview

— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) November 29, 2024

“The only way she ends up running [as president] is if things continue the way they’re going, where it’s just going down this dark path and no one really steps up [to lead the Democrats], and she kind of gets pressured into it,” an Ocasio-Cortez associate told Politico.

“She’s more not focused on running for president than she is uninterested in it,” a second associate added.

Rep. Greg Casar, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also weighed in on her potentially running for president.

“She doesn’t think the same way that so many other people do,” he said. “She’s not thinking about, like, ‘Oh, what’s the next step on the ladder?’ She really thinks about what’s right for the movement.”

Dovetailing back to Schumer’s seat, critics have boldly predicted it’ll wind up in the hands of a Republican if Ocasio-Cortez were to run against and beat the Senate Minority Leader in a primary.

One way a republican might be elected Senator of NY.

— Greg2ndof7th (@greg2ndof7th) April 4, 2025

Wow- we will see New York go red if this happens. (Though I’m not a fan of Schumer, I dislike AOC far more.)

— ️ג׳ניפר (@jk006d) April 4, 2025

Other critics have said that replacing Schumer with Ocasio-Cortez would mean replacing one idiot with another idiot.

Replace an idiot with a retard.

— Jafo (@thisis2112) April 4, 2025

Swapping one loser out for another

— Chowt (@Chowt9) April 4, 2025

Schumer, for his part, dismissed the possibility of a primary challenge in an interview last month with The New York Times.

“That’s a long time away,” he said. “I am focused on bringing Trump’s numbers down, his popularity down, exposing what he has done to America and what he will do. That’s my focus right now.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s supporters, meanwhile, have responded with excitement to Data for Progress’ poll results.

Look:

Replacing Chuck Schumer with AOC would be an incredible upgrade. I guess we’ll have to wait four more years… pic.twitter.com/bQYINbN3sQ

— Bhaskar Sunkara (@sunraysunray) April 4, 2025

Good morning to leadership and fighting oligarchy! https://t.co/9lZ7PjV6Nd

— Zephyr Teachout (@ZephyrTeachout) April 4, 2025

What I mean is that what AOC is doing is leadership— and people see that

— Zephyr Teachout (@ZephyrTeachout) April 4, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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