Vice President J.D. Vance believes Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the most likely candidate to lead the Democratic presidential ticket in 2028. Speaking on “The Michael Knowles Show,” Vance dismissed the conventional political view that California Governor Gavin Newsom is the current frontrunner, pointing instead to a fundamental shift in where the Democratic Party derives its institutional power.

Shift in Power

Vance stated that the nominee will ultimately depend on which of two groups holds true control over the party apparatus: the business-aligned wing represented by Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, and the academic wing represented by Ocasio-Cortez. Vance argued that the Democratic Party of 2026 has alienated everyday voters because of this shift.

Vance referenced an observation by columnist David Brooks regarding the evolving demographics of the political left. Brooks noted that the power center has shifted from unions to universities, which Vance believes will lead to Ocasio-Cortez being the nominee.

Cultural Shift

Vance explained that this cultural shift creates a major political vulnerability for the opposition. He noted that economic populism, such as taxing the wealthy, remains highly popular with American voters across the political spectrum. However, Vance asserted that modern Democrats struggle to capitalize on this advantage because they consistently pair popular economic ideas with polarizing social and cultural agendas.

Vance added that despite the party’s anti-wealth rhetoric, its cultural and social values happen to align closely with the chief executive officers of nearly every major U.S. corporation.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.