Imagine a future presidential race where eligibility takes a back seat to ideology, and the Democratic Party’s energy surges behind names that break every political rulebook you thought you knew.

Senator Cruz Throws Down a Wild 2028 Gauntlet

Senator Ted Cruz, never one to shy from the spotlight, made headlines when he crowned Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Zohran Mamdani as the two front-runners for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Cruz’s forecast, delivered on Fox News’s Larry Kudlow show, wasn’t just provocative—it was a calculated jab at what he called the party’s disregard for the Constitution. The twist: Mamdani, New York’s freshly elected mayor, was born in Kampala, Uganda, making him ineligible for the presidency. Cruz’s underlying accusation? That today’s Democrats might not care about such constitutional inconveniences.

A busy first day as your Mayor-elect: early morning interviews, transition announcements and meetings. More to say on all of it tomorrow.

But a highlight was lunch with my Congresswoman @AOC at Laliguras Bistro in Jackson Heights. pic.twitter.com/vKWpNyrI09

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 6, 2025

His words weren’t tossed off lightly. Cruz pointed to a Democratic Party he views as hijacked by the radical left, fueled by the establishment’s embrace of Mamdani. And his rhetorical grenade wasn’t just about eligibility—it was about what the party now values: energy, ideology, and disruption over tradition and law. This sets the stage for a political showdown where the old rules are up for grabs.

The Rise of Mamdani: Socialism, Endorsements, and the New York Pulse

Zohran Mamdani’s ascent to New York City’s mayoralty did more than unseat old-guard expectations; it electrified the city’s progressive base. Mamdani ran—and won—on a platform promising free citywide bus service, universal child care, frozen rent, and city-operated grocery stores. He didn’t mince words in his victory speech, goading Donald Trump to “turn up the volume” as if daring the national conversation to focus on him. These are not the usual promises or tones of a candidate content to remain a local figure.

The establishment’s reaction was swift. Governor Kathy Hochul and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both fixtures of mainstream Democratic politics, endorsed Mamdani. Jeffries, however, hedged his bets, dismissing Mamdani as the future of the party days before the election—an equivocation that reveals visible fault lines among Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, notably, withheld his endorsement, perhaps wary of aligning with Mamdani’s radical platform or uncertain about where the party’s winds will blow next.

Ted Cruz: "I think right now the 2 frontrunners for the Democratic nomination in 2028 are AOC and Mamdani. Now, he's not even eligible, but what do they care? Law doesn't mean anything to them. That's where their party is." pic.twitter.com/zSlwbyhmUx

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 6, 2025

AOC’s Star Power and the Socialist Surge

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known for her media savvy and national profile, wasted no time aligning herself with Mamdani after his victory. Their meeting at a Jackson Heights bistro signaled more than camaraderie; it was a public display of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing consolidating its influence. Ocasio-Cortez’s support for Mamdani wasn’t just local—it was symbolic, a signal to party insiders and outsiders alike that the energy and ideas animating New York could soon shape the national conversation.

Progressives reveled in Mamdani’s “mandate” victory, with local socialist leaders openly declaring, “We have power.” This isn’t just rhetorical flourish. It’s a message that the priorities of the party are shifting, maybe irrevocably, toward policies and personalities once considered fringe. As younger, more radical voices gain legitimacy, establishment figures find themselves compelled to join—or risk irrelevance.

Sources:

Cruz says AOC and Mamdani two front-runners for 2028 Democratic nomination

Zohran Mamdani elected as New York City’s next mayor

New York socialist leaders revel in Mamdani’s ‘mandate’ victory: ‘We have power’

Hakeem Jeffries endorses Zohran Mamdani after months of pressure