Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar are two of the most recognizable politicians in the Democratic Party. The New York and Minnesota Congresswomen are favorites among the progressive wing of their party and often are targets of the right.
However, while they may be in the headlines and receive recognition, a recent poll shows that it may not all be positive.
According to Axios, a recent poll shows that more than 50 percent of voters recognize both Ocasio-Cortez and Omar, but neither are viewed as favorable by more than 25 percent of voters. That’s obviously not good news for the two women — nor is it good news for Senator Bernie Sanders, who recently received endorsements for president from Ocasio-Cortez and her squad.
“If all voters hear about is AOC, it could put the [House] majority at risk,” according to someone labeled as a top Democrat. “[S]he’s getting all the news and defining everyone else’s races.”
From Axios:
- Ocasio-Cortez is recognized by 74 percent of voters, yet has an approval rating of 22 percent
- Omar is recognized by 53 percent of voters and has an approval rating of just 9 percent
- Voters understand what socialism is, and 69 percent of them view it unfavorably, while just 18 percent view it favorably
- Capitalism, meanwhile, is viewed favorably by 56 percent of respondents, and negatively by 32 percent
It will be interesting to see whether other polls back up this data, but it could be troubling for some Democrats who were planning on taking the party in the progressive direction. With presidential candidates like South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar stealing the show at the recent CNN/New York Times Democratic Presidential Debate, it could show that more and more potential voters are making a shift towards a more moderate, centrist approach.
But for now, all we can do is wait for the primaries and caucuses to start.