‘What Have you Done?’ [WATCH]

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is drawing national attention as she joins Sen. Bernie Sanders on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, stirring speculation that she may be positioning herself for a primary challenge against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2028.

The cross-country tour, which began as an effort to energize the progressive base following a string of Democrat losses in the 2024 election, has taken a more pointed turn.

During a stop in Las Vegas, Ocasio-Cortez delivered remarks calling for a stronger and more combative Democratic Party.

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“This isn’t just about Republicans. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us, too,” she told attendees.

“But what that means is that we as a community must choose and vote for Democrats and elected officials who know how to stand for the working class.”

NBC News reported that the tour has now evolved into a platform for the party’s left wing to voice frustration over Schumer’s recent decision not to oppose a Republican-led continuing resolution to fund the government, a move that disappointed many progressives.

Chants of “Primary Chuck” have now emerged at tour stops, adding to the speculation about Ocasio-Cortez’s future ambitions.

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According to NBC, the decision sparked anger among progressives and “prompted some of Ocasio-Cortez’s House colleagues to encourage her to mount a primary challenge to Schumer, her fellow New Yorker, in 2028.”

Meanwhile, newly elected Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan has weighed in on the debate, making clear that she sees herself in stark contrast to Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders.

Speaking at a town hall in Michigan this week, Slotkin pushed back on the rising progressive rhetoric, emphasizing the need for practicality in governing.

“My state’s politics require me to be more than just an AOC,” she said.

“I can’t do what she does, because we live in a purple state and I’m a pragmatist.”

Slotkin went further, questioning the effectiveness of prominent progressive lawmakers. “Everyone you mentioned has a lot of words, but what have they actually done to change the situation with Donald Trump?”

Democrat Senator Elissa Slotkin rips AOC, Bernie, and Jasmine Crockett to shreds.

“What have they actually done to change the situation with Donald Trump?”

“All of those things require me to be more than just an AOC.” pic.twitter.com/7Y4fgQFEiq

— Rusty (@Rusty_Weiss) March 21, 2025

The Democratic Party has faced internal strain since the 2024 election, where Republicans not only retained control of the House but also gained several Senate seats.

Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in multiple swing states, and Democrats have been publicly reassessing their direction ever since.

As reported by The Hill, Slotkin is positioning herself as part of the party’s moderate wing, focused on practical outcomes rather than ideological messaging.

Her comments appear aimed at pushing back against growing momentum within the progressive movement, which continues to challenge party leadership for not doing enough to block Republican initiatives.

The Daily Mail noted that while Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez continue their national tour, California Governor Gavin Newsom is also attempting to reposition himself politically, launching a podcast in which he debates conservatives and attempts to moderate his previous far-left stances.

Senate Majority Leader Schumer, now facing discontent from the party’s left flank, has not responded to public pressure following his support for the Republican-led spending bill.

With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris currently absent from the political spotlight, internal Democratic debates over strategy and identity are now dominating the party’s public image.

Whether Ocasio-Cortez will ultimately challenge Schumer remains to be seen, but the ideological divide between progressive activists and pragmatic Democrats continues to deepen as the party struggles to regain footing ahead of future elections.

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