Lefty “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is using her powerful fundraising muscle to back a moderate, pro-gun, drill-baby-drill Democrat.
“I’m reaching out to ask if you can split a $5 donation between Mary Peltola’s campaign for US Senate and our movement for progress?” the Democratic Socialist from Queens blasted out Tuesday in an email appeal.
“Mary is running on a platform of systemic change — she’ll fight in the Senate to lower grocery costs and build new housing Alaskans can afford.”
What the socialist rep didn’t mention to her progressive supporters is that Peltola lists her campaign priorities as “fish, family, freedom” and was the only Democrat to be endorsed by the National Rifle Association in 2024.
Peltola, 52, won Alaska’s lone House of Representatives seat in a special election in 2022, beating out former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, before losing her re-election bid to Republican Nick Begich in 2024.
While in office, she lobbied the Biden administration for Arctic drilling and boasted about getting ConocoPhillips’ controversial $8 billion Willow Project approved.
Peltola’s 2024 run was boosted by oil money — Chevron and ConocoPhillips Super PACs spent at least $310,000 on her campaign and television ads — even though AOC claimed in her donation link: “Alexandria and Mary take $0 from corporations, and each of their campaigns depend on all of you.”
Still, the endorsement from the “Bronx girl” is a break from the candidates Ocasio-Cortez has lent a fundraising hand to in the past — who have included fellow “Squad” members Jamaal Bowman, Ilhan Omar, and Attorney General Letitia James.
The move could signify a strategy indicative of a potential Senate run in 2028, political observers said.
Getting Peltola to run has been described as a coup for the national Democrats, as the parties try to flip the Senate in the 2026 midterms.
Peltola, who has won a statewide race before, is considered a strong bet.
“Ocasio-Cortez wants to show she’s willing to put the party first — party over ideology — and that is sort of a step into a more moderate version of herself,” said Lonna Atkeson, a political scientist at Florida State University.
“She is trying to demonstrate leadership in a very Nancy Pelosi way, and she’s like, ‘Who can win?’”
The decision to back Peltola is likely more indicative of a a potential Senate run for AOC, than a White House run, Atkeson believes.
In a Senate race, Ocasio-Cortez would have to win over moderate New York Democrats outside her district — the kind of voters who might find Peltola an attractive candidate.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who would be the incumbent in that contest, raised less than $500,000 last year — a far cry from AOC’s record $20 million.
The lack of funds has lead to speculation the 78-year-old lawmaker might not seek re-election when his term is up in 2028.
“There’s a lot of concern and frustration within the Democratic Party about how Chuck Schumer has done things and that’s a potential target there that you could imagine someone like Ocasio-Cortez finding appealing,” said Hans Noel, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University.
“For all that she needs friends and allies from within the party, and supporting Peltola helps with that.”
Peltola is running against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, who is seeking re‑election to the Senate for a third term. Polling suggests a very tight race, with Peltola narrowly leading by 2 percentage points over Sullivan in a poll conducted earlier this week.
