Scoop: AOC shakes up team again as 2028 decision looms
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks with reporters Monday at the Capitol. Photo: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is shaking up her team for the second time in the past few months as she prepares to make the biggest decision of her political life.
Why it matters: The overhaul comes as the democratic socialist leader is debating whether to run for president in 2028 — or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's seat, which is up the same year.
Zoom in: Ocasio-Cortez has parted ways with her longtime digital fundraising firm, Middle Seat, according to three people familiar with the decision.
- At the same time, sources said, she's brought on Aisle 518 Strategies — the company led by Democratic strategist Tim Tagaris, who oversaw Bernie Sanders' record-breaking online fundraising strategy in his two presidential campaigns.
- Middle Seat has been key to Ocasio-Cortez's operation. Over the past two years, she has paid the firm more than $6 million — about a quarter of her operation's disbursements during that period.
- AOC is close with Sanders, and if she decides to run for president, progressives say, she would be able to quickly staff up with his former advisers.
But Ocasio-Cortez's latest move doesn't necessarily signal that she's leaning toward a presidential run or a Senate bid.
- Tagaris' firm has helped power the small-dollar fundraising operation for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who's widely expected to run for the White House.
- It also has worked with other Democrats who are potential contenders for president — Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff and former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to the company's website.
- Middle Seat, the firm AOC is leaving, has Sanders roots as well: It was founded by alumni of the Vermont senator's 2016 campaign.
Flashback: Ocasio-Cortez's reorganizing follows several changes she made to her staff this year, as Axios previously reported.
- They included parting ways with her longtime campaign manager and creative director, as well as bringing aboard a few former aides.
- The Washington Sun reported this week that AOC had hired Freeland Ellis, a Sanders alum, as a communications aide.
What they're saying: A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez declined to comment.
- Tagaris declined to comment, and Middle Seat partner Kenneth Pennington did not respond to a request for comment.
