Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez collected an impressive $9.6 million during the first quarter of 2025, marking her most successful fundraising period to date, according to a campaign finance filing released on Tuesday.
This significant influx of donations more than quintupled her earnings from the same quarter in 2024, as Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., continue to attract large audiences at their “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies across the nation.
During these events, the two prominent progressives have been vocal in their critiques of President Donald Trump’s administration while underscoring the influence of wealthy individuals, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, within the government. The rallies have drawn considerable crowds, even in Republican-leaning states.
In addition to her fundraising success, Ocasio-Cortez is being considered as a potential primary challenger to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in the 2028 election. Progressives have expressed frustration over Schumer’s actions, particularly his vote in favor of a Republican-sponsored measure to prevent a government shutdown in March. There is a growing call for renewed leadership within the Democratic Party following its losses in the White House and Senate during the 2024 elections.
“I cannot convey enough how grateful I am to the millions of people supporting us with your time, resources, & energy,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Tuesday.
“Your support has allowed us to rally people together at record scale to organize their communities,” she stated, representing a district that includes parts of the Bronx and Queens in New York City.
Records from the Federal Election Commission highlight that a significant portion of the donations were made in small increments. Ocasio-Cortez noted that the average contribution was only $21.
Her campaign manager, Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, revealed that 64% of the first-quarter donations were from first-time contributors, reinforcing the grassroots nature of the campaign. He added, “These resources support a year-round organizing presence in NY-14 [Ocasio-Cortez’s district] and enable us to host rallies across the country in areas such as Arizona, Colorado, and Utah,” asserting that this funding structure ensures they remain free from the influences of lobbyists, corporations, or billionaires.
