By Danielle Arfin
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) received more individual small-dollar donations through ActBlue in the first half of 2025 than the entire Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), according to longtime Democratic strategist Tim Tagaris. The claim, if accurate, points to a growing shift in the party’s fundraising dynamics — and has renewed speculation that Ocasio-Cortez may be preparing for a 2026 Senate run.
“AOC had more individual, small-dollar donations on ActBlue over the first 6 months of 2025 than the entire DCCC,” Tagaris posted on X.
Tagaris also claimed that more than 71,000 ActBlue donations came from New York State alone during that period, though a breakdown by candidate has not been made publicly available. While ActBlue does not release real-time recipient comparisons, Ocasio-Cortez has consistently ranked among the platform’s top grassroots fundraisers in past election cycles.
As of publication, ActBlue has not released a candidate-by-candidate comparison for the first half of 2025, and the DCCC has not confirmed the reported figures.
The DCCC has long depended on large-dollar fundraising events, corporate PACs, and bundling networks. That a single member of Congress could outpace its small-dollar performance has raised concerns among Democratic leadership, especially with high-stakes House and Senate races looming in 2026. According to OpenSecrets, the DCCC typically raises tens of millions through institutional partnerships and major donors — a model that increasingly contrasts with the decentralized approach of progressive candidates.
While Ocasio-Cortez has not officially declared a Senate run, the fundraising gap is fueling speculation that she may challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2026. Though Gillibrand has held the seat since 2009, she has struggled to mobilize the party’s progressive base. Ocasio-Cortez, by contrast, continues to build a national movement rooted in small-dollar giving, media visibility, and grassroots organizing.
Ocasio-Cortez was elected in 2018 with the support of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has remained closely aligned with the group’s priorities. Other DSA-backed lawmakers in New York include Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani — who recently emerged as the city’s Democratic mayoral nominee — and former State Senator Jabari Brisport, both of whom have drawn national attention for their controversial stances on Israel, public safety, and foreign policy.
The surge in decentralized fundraising reflects a broader transformation within the Democratic Party. Ocasio-Cortez and her allies have shown that candidates can now build formidable campaigns without relying on party infrastructure, traditional donors, or the approval of establishment figures.
As of publication, neither Ocasio-Cortez’s office nor the DCCC has commented publicly on the reported donation totals. But the implications are clear: a movement once considered fringe is now financially outpacing the Democratic Party’s core institutions, and may soon challenge them at the highest levels of the ballot.
