It's 2026 now. If you're looking back and wondering about the political chaos of the last few years, one question probably sticks out: is AOC up for re-election in 2024? Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago. Back in 2024, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—the woman everyone either loves to hero-worship or loves to hate—was indeed back on the ballot. Since she’s a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, she has to run every two years. That’s just the way the House works. Unlike the Senate, where you get a nice six-year cushion, House members are basically in a permanent state of campaigning.
The Short Answer: Yes, She Ran
If you were living in New York's 14th District—covering parts of the Bronx and Queens—you saw her name on the ballot twice in 2024. First for the June primary and then for the big show in November.
She didn't just run; she dominated. But the path wasn't exactly a walk in the park. There was this vibe in 2024 that the "Squad" was under fire. You had big-money groups like AIPAC spending millions to unseat progressive incumbents. While some of her colleagues, like Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, actually lost their seats in 2024, AOC managed to hold her ground.
How the 2024 Primary Went Down
On June 25, 2024, Ocasio-Cortez faced a primary challenger named Marty Dolan. Dolan was basically the "moderate" alternative. He tried to frame himself as a common-sense Democrat who would focus on local issues rather than national headlines.
It didn't work.
AOC crushed it. She took home about 81.8% of the vote, leaving Dolan with just 17.7%. It turns out that after several years in office, she’s built a pretty deep well of support in her home turf. She isn't just a Twitter (or X) celebrity; she's got a real ground game in the Bronx.
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The General Election: A Rematch
Fast forward to November 5, 2024. The general election was actually a bit of a sequel. AOC went up against Tina Forte, a Republican she had already beaten back in 2022.
Forte is... well, she's a personality. She’s a MAGA-aligned candidate who tried to capitalize on the national shift toward the right. And while Donald Trump did surprisingly well in New York City during the 2024 cycle, it wasn't enough to flip the 14th District.
The final tally for the 2024 general election looked like this:
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D/Working Families): 68.9% (132,714 votes)
- Tina Forte (R/Conservative): 30.7% (59,078 votes)
She won by nearly 40 points. Even though it was a slightly smaller margin than her 70.6% win in 2022, it was still a blowout by any standard.
Why People Were Worried About Her Re-election
There was a lot of talk about whether AOC was "losing her edge" or becoming too much of an "insider." She had endorsed Joe Biden early on, which annoyed some of the hard-left activists. Then, when Biden dropped out and Kamala Harris took over the ticket, AOC was one of the first to jump on board.
People kept asking if her base would stay loyal. But the 2024 results proved that while the national Democratic party was struggling with working-class voters, AOC’s specific brand of "Democratic Socialism" still has a massive grip on her specific corner of New York.
What AOC Is Doing Now (2025-2026)
Now that we're in the 119th Congress, she’s not just a "firebrand" anymore. She's a ranking member on some pretty heavy-hitting committees. Specifically, she’s been active on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Natural Resources.
She's transitioned from the person shouting at the gates to the person holding the gavel (or at least sitting right next to it). It’s been weird to watch her become part of the "establishment" she used to rail against, even if she’s still pushing for things like the Green New Deal.
What Most People Get Wrong
One big misconception was that she would run for the Senate in 2024. Kirsten Gillibrand’s seat was up, and for a minute, everyone thought AOC might try to primary her.
She didn't.
She stayed in the House. Honestly, it was a smart move. Primarying a sitting Senator is a massive risk, and if she had lost, her national career might have been over. By staying in her safe House seat, she’s been able to build up a massive war chest—we’re talking tens of millions of dollars—that she can use for a bigger run later. Maybe 2028? Maybe Governor? Nobody knows for sure yet.
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Key Takeaways from the 2024 Race
- House seats are short: If you’re a rep, you’re always up for re-election.
- She’s safe (for now): Her district remains a deep-blue stronghold despite shifts in other parts of the city.
- The "Squad" is shrinking: While AOC won, the 2024 cycle was brutal for other progressives.
- Next Election: Mark your calendars for November 3, 2026. She’ll be doing this all over again in a few months.
If you're following the 119th Congress today, her votes on things like the Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act or various appropriations bills show she's playing the long game. She's currently serving a term that ends in early 2027.
If you want to stay on top of her current legislative moves, your best bet is to check the Office of the Clerk of the House for her latest voting record. You can also track her campaign finance disclosures on OpenSecrets to see who is funding her next inevitable run in 2026.