Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, stated that President Donald Trump's policies are leading Democratic voters to support far-left candidates like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This comment follows a New Hampshire poll indicating that Ocasio-Cortez is the top choice among likely Democratic voters for the 2028 presidential nomination. Kelly received 9% support in the poll, placing third behind Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Kelly has suggested he may run for president in 2028, mentioning in an NBC interview that he is discussing the decision with his family. He commented on Ocasio-Cortez's popularity, saying, "I don't know about her message, but people are really struggling." He attributed the support for candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America to voter frustration with Trump's economic policies, stating, "The policies of this president — supporting billionaires over hardworking people... I think it's a response to that."
Kelly also referenced Federal Reserve data from 2021, which showed that the top 1% of households hold more wealth than the bottom 60% combined. Trump has defended his economic agenda, claiming it aims to benefit middle-class Americans through tax relief and lower costs. Kelly criticized Trump, saying, "It's unfortunate we have people like this running the government... The corruption is just off the charts."