Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said Sunday that she has not ruled out seeking higher office in the future while also revealing she has decided to begin the process of freezing her eggs, discussing both topics during an interview with ABC’s Jon Karl.
The New York congresswoman first shared the personal announcement during an Instagram livestream Saturday night, saying she had decided to publicly discuss a private matter.
“Usually I keep my private life quite private, but I have made the decision to start freezing my eggs,” Ocasio-Cortez said during the livestream.
The following morning, Karl asked Ocasio-Cortez about her political future, citing a New Hampshire poll that placed her as the top choice among likely Democratic primary voters.
“I want to… get to your future. I’m sure you saw the poll in New Hampshire that had you as the leading candidate, leading choice, for Democrats. First of all, are you going to run for president?” Karl asked.
Ocasio-Cortez responded by emphasizing her current campaign for reelection to Congress.
“I mean, I’m focused on winning the midterms. I’m running for Congress right now,” she said with a laugh.
Karl followed up by asking whether a presidential campaign remained a realistic possibility.
“But I mean, do you see this as something—I mean, I know you said you’re open to it. Is it a realistic possibility for you?” he asked.
Ocasio-Cortez did not rule out the prospect.
“Well I haven’t ruled out the possibility,” she answered. “And I’m very humbled to the tremendous amount of support out there. I think that we have a responsibility to remain focused on the midterms and not on our individual aspirations or plans.”
Karl also asked whether she might consider challenging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for a U.S. Senate seat.
“And running for Senate against Chuck Schumer? Is that also something that’s possible?” he asked.
Ocasio-Cortez again declined to close the door.
“I mean, I think that anything is possible at this juncture,” she replied.
Before concluding the interview, Karl returned to the personal announcement Ocasio-Cortez had made on social media.
“So I have decided to start the process of freezing my eggs,” she said.
Ocasio-Cortez tied the decision to what she described as the current political climate.
“And in this political environment where this administration is denying reproductive care to women across the country, from abortion rights to the ability to carry out a healthy pregnancy, I think it’s important for us as leaders to have these conversations, conversations, and share these processes, especially for working women across the country and normalize them,” she said.
During her Instagram livestream, the 36-year-old lawmaker also acknowledged that discussing such a personal decision publicly could carry political consequences.
“There is very strangely a political risk, or a political tax, that comes with sharing this info,” she said. “Per usual, that doesn’t influence my ultimate decision.”
The New Hampshire poll referenced during the interview showed Ocasio-Cortez receiving support from 22% of likely Democratic primary voters.
According to the poll, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg followed closely behind with 21%.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., placed third with 9% of likely Democratic primary voters.
The remaining contenders listed in the poll included California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Although Ocasio-Cortez made clear that her immediate focus remains on the upcoming midterm elections and her congressional campaign, her comments left open the possibility of pursuing either the presidency or a Senate bid in the future.
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