AOC’s Fundraising Skyrockets as New York Representative and Bernie Sanders Campaign Across the U.S. Opposing Trump

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Ny) held hands during a stop on their ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour at Grand Park on April 12, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. Sam Ghazi | Afp | Getty Images. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez raised $9.6 million during the first quarter of 2025, marking her strongest fundraising quarter to date, according to a campaign finance filing released on Tuesday.

Ocasio-Cortez’s impressive fundraising haul—over five times her total in the first quarter of 2024—comes as she and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., attract significant crowds at “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies across the United States. The two progressive leaders at these events criticize former President Donald Trump’s policies and emphasize the influence of billionaires, including DOGE chief Elon Musk, within the Trump administration. Attendance at the rallies has remained robust even in traditionally Republican states.

Ocasio-Cortez is also being considered as a potential primary challenger to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2028. Schumer raised just $144,742 during the first quarter of 2025, as indicated by his public filing.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a stop on the ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at Grand Park on April 12, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images. Progressives express frustration with her fellow New York Democrat for, among other actions, voting for a Republican-sponsored resolution to avert a government shutdown in March. There are increasing calls for new leadership within the Democratic Party following their 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, and energy,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Tuesday. “Your support has enabled us to bring people together at an unprecedented scale to organize their communities,” said the lawmaker, whose district encompasses parts of the Bronx and Queens in New York City.

A significant portion of the donations came in small amounts, as Federal Election Commission records indicate. Ocasio-Cortez noted that the average donation was just $21. A solid majority of donations in the first quarter—64%—were made by first-time donors, her campaign manager, Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, stated in a tweet.

“These resources allow us to maintain a year-round organizing presence in NY-14 [AOC’s district] and to host rallies nationwide in locations like Arizona, Colorado, and Utah,” Hidalgo-Wohlleben remarked. “It also means we are not beholden to any lobbyists, corporations, or billionaires.”