United States — September 28, 2026
Some Democratic candidates running in competitive U.S. races are reportedly keeping Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez away from their fall campaign trails, according to a new report from Axios.
The development comes as Democrats prepare for the November 3 midterm elections, with some candidates in closely contested districts seeking to appeal to voters beyond the party's progressive base.
Some Candidates Want Distance
Axios reported that several Democrats in competitive races have either avoided campaigning with Ocasio-Cortez or asked her team to stay away from their races. A Democratic strategist quoted in the report described her as a "lightning rod" and said polling about her was unfavorable.
Montana Democratic House candidate Sam Forstag, who appeared with Ocasio-Cortez during his primary campaign, also indicated that he did not plan to have many out-of-state politicians campaign alongside him during the final weeks before the general election.
Axios also reported that Ocasio-Cortez's endorsement had been removed from Forstag's campaign website.
Not All Democrats Are Avoiding Her
The picture is not uniform across the Democratic Party. Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has said his campaign would welcome Ocasio-Cortez back, with a spokesperson telling Axios that many supporters wanted to see her return to Michigan.
Ocasio-Cortez has also campaigned for Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon, a progressive Democrat, and recently appeared with Rep. Josh Riley in New York.
The New York congresswoman's campaign activity therefore continues, although her involvement varies from race to race.
Why Her Role Is Drawing Attention
Ocasio-Cortez remains one of the Democratic Party's most nationally recognizable progressive figures. Her supporters argue that her ability to mobilize progressive voters can help Democratic candidates, while some candidates in competitive districts have expressed concerns about being closely associated with her national political profile.
Republicans have also sought to use Ocasio-Cortez's association with Democratic candidates as a campaign issue. In New York's 17th Congressional District, Republican Rep. Mike Lawler has attempted to link Democratic challenger Cait Conley to Ocasio-Cortez.
Conley has previously said she would not campaign alongside Ocasio-Cortez.
What AOC Says
Ocasio-Cortez has pushed back against Republican efforts to use her political profile against Democratic candidates. She argued that Republicans were wasting money by making her a central feature of their attacks.
Her chief of staff, Mike Casca, also indicated that the congresswoman could still participate in additional campaign events before Election Day.
A Bigger Question for 2028
The debate over Ocasio-Cortez's campaign role is also attracting attention because of speculation surrounding a possible 2028 Democratic presidential campaign.
Ocasio-Cortez has said she will make a decision about her political future after the 2026 midterm elections. Her performance with candidates outside her New York base could therefore become part of the broader discussion about her national political reach.
The Bottom Line
Reports of Democratic candidates distancing themselves from Ocasio-Cortez reflect differing campaign strategies rather than a uniform decision across the party. Some candidates are avoiding joint appearances, while others continue to seek her support and campaign presence.
With the November midterms approaching, her role on the campaign trail remains closely watched as Democrats compete in races across the country.
Editor's Note: This report summarizes current media reporting, primarily an Axios report published September 27, 2026. Claims about individual campaigns and their decisions are attributed to the cited reporting and should not be interpreted as representing all Democrats.
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