An interesting tidbit surfaced on Sunday from a Honan Strategy Group poll on the New York 2028 Senate Race. Chuck Schumer, despite being old enough to require carbon dating to determine his date of birth, plans to run for re-election to his Senate seat again in 2028. But there are murmurings of primary challenges, not least of which is coming from the firebrand former bartender from the Bronx, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
There’s a problem with the poll, though, that may well scotch AOC’s chances, should she decide to challenge Schumer: The poll only sampled voters in New York City.
Socialist Ocasio-Cortez leads five-term incumbent Schumer by a 54%-33% among likely Democratic voters in the Big Apple, according to the poll conducted by Honan Strategy Group for the Jewish Voters Action Network.
AOC, 35, who now services as a member of the House of Representatives, leads Schumer among Jewish Democrats 45%-33% with 17% undecided, the poll found.Â
It’s a rather glaring omission; the Senatorial election is a state-wide contest. This survey only hit the city. New York City is a constituency that’s unlike much of the rest of the state; it’s unclear as to whether AOC could shellack Schumer with enough of a margin to cancel out the rest of the state, where voters may be more hostile to a self-professed “Democratic Socialist.”
Nevertheless, there’s a reason for Senator Schumer to be worried.
The numbers are troublesome for Schumer, who is Jewish and has relied on Jewish voters as a key area of support in his 50-year political career. The 74-year-old Senate minority leader isn’t up for reelection until 2028.
Litwack said the poll results are likely more of a reflection of dissatisfaction with Schumer than support for AOC, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America — a group that supports the controversial boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel.
Are there any moderate Democrats left in New York? Because this might be an opportunity.
