Inside political circles, AOC’s aloof style becomes a factor
LEFT GUARD: The battle to own the progressive lane in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary is already brewing, with allies of Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Rep. Ro Khanna launching recruitment efforts seeking to nudge them both into the race. The rival efforts are laying bare the aloof, tight-lipped way AOC’s political team operates behind the scenes as she continues to weigh whether to run for president or Senate. And the recruitment bids are also showing the central role of New York in the early days of the 2028 race. Last week, former NYC-DSA-endorsed Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Democratic strategist Nomiki Konst, two longtime operatives in New York politics, launched “Run Ro,” a new outside group aiming to push Khanna to run for president. And on Monday, progressives including Ravi Sahai, a former 2025 campaign staffer for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, launched “Ready for AOC.” New York City Democratic Socialists of America co-chairs Gustavo Gordillo and Grace Mausser are also behind the pro-AOC effort, two people familiar with the matter said. The move from Bowman and Konst to get behind Khanna — instead of their fellow New Yorker — has bewildered some in the state’s left-leaning political ecosystem. “It’s weird,”
