| | | | |  | | By Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman | | Presented by |  | | | With Timmy Facciola
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An Axios poll found three quarters of Dems would consider voting for AOC for president — even though she was legally too young. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images | Nothing can be said for certain, except death, taxes — and now, speculation about AOC running for president. The latest round comes courtesy of a Black Friday story in The Hill about contenders for the Democratic nomination in 2028. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was thrown in as the 11th and last name, a fun little kicker. “She’s somebody who can cut through the noise and doesn’t talk like Washington,” an anonymous Democratic strategist told The Hill. AOC for president hype started three weeks after she first took office in 2019 when Axios found three-quarters of Dems would consider voting for her for president — even though she was legally too young. “AOC Becomes First Woman Encouraged to Turn 35,” a punk rock takeoff of The Onion, The Hard Times, wrote months later. More serious takes came months later in 2019 after she stumped for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) presidential candidacy, in 2020 when Cardi B encouraged her to run, and in 2022 when Stephen Colbert asked her if she’d consider vying for the job. Ocasio-Cortez hasn’t given any indication of interest — like California Gov. Gavin Newsome visiting New Hampshire — and most potential candidate roundups (including POLITICO’s) leave her off, while including progressive Rep. Ro Khanna of California, who has long been considered an heir to Bernie. She’s a talented communicator with political celebrity status, but she’s polarizing with views well to the left of the median Democrat, let alone the median voter — the abolition of prisons is one example, as noted by The American Saga newsletter. She has passed over opportunities for advancement too, like declining to challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s reelection. Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign declined to comment Sunday on the presidential speculation. An AOC run seems possible — hell, even Bill de Blasio gave it a shot — but unlikely. More political clickbait than a serious plan. Tonight, Ocasio-Cortez is not at an Iowa steak fry, but a mass call with the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, focused on the roughly 500 new members who’ve joined since Election Day. “We thought it would be a great time to capitalize on that with the most popular socialist in the country,” NYC-DSA co-chair Grace Mausser told Playbook. And no, the famously deliberative organization is not ready to weigh in on whether AOC should run. “We’re more focused on the near term,” Mausser said. “What do we do to get stronger for the Trump presidency?” People will keep talking, though. The Draft AOC 2028 movement has scheduled a meeting for tonight — cheekily — in the Trump Tower atrium. It’s a fringe movement, led by the idiosyncratic former public advocate candidate Theo Chino. ”We prepare the party, and in September 2027, when we need to sign the paperwork, she can decide,” Chino said. “If she doesn't, we'll vote to find someone else.“ — Jeff Coltin HAPPY MONDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | A message from Uber: Study Reveals Uber Drivers Make More than EMTs: NYC Uber drivers now earn an average of $52,900 annually after expenses, outpacing the salaries of many essential city employees, including EMTs and sanitation workers. Despite delivering vital services, these workers struggle with stagnant wages while Uber drivers have benefited from five TLC-mandated pay hikes since 2020. Read more on the wage disparity impacting NYC’s workforce. Learn More. | | | WHERE’S KATHY? Making an affordability announcement in Manhattan. WHERE’S ERIC? Making an education- and jobs-related announcement as part of Affordability Week, and appearing on Univision’s Noticias Univision 41. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Across election districts, the share of people registering recently with no party is highly correlated with the share of those voting for Trump in 2024.” — CUNY Graduate Center political science professor John Mollenkopf on a bump in “blanks” or independents in a New York Post story about the drop in Democratic enrollment.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | | 
State Sen. James Skoufis' recognition outside New York is nonexistent so he’ll have to convince national party officials he’s fit to lead them. | Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Media Assets, Inc. | PULL UP A CHAIR: State Sen. James Skoufis’ bid to lead the Democratic National Committee is a longshot, but he insisted in an interview he’s serious. Skoufis told Playbook he’d leave his Senate seat after the state budget is done and hold the new job full time if elected chair — a plan that stands in stark contrast to former Assemblymember Michael Blake’s claim that he could simultaneously be New York City mayor and lead the national party. Skoufis emphatically denied he’s trying to leverage the run for DNC chair into another job — like running for the House seat held by Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, a potential candidate for governor in 2026. “The DNC chair’s race has nothing to do with pivoting to run for the Mike Lawler congressional seat,” Skoufis, a moderate, said. The Hudson Valley Democrat’s name recognition outside New York is nonexistent so he’ll have to convince national party officials he’s fit to lead them along the hard road back to national power and relevance. He plans to attend a party meeting in Arizona this week to pitch himself in person. Generating cash for the DNC is a key priority for a national chair, and Skoufis acknowledged he does not have a deep well of national fundraising contacts. But he’s a prodigious fundraiser in his own right and believes his lack of connections could be a plus as he casts himself as someone who can shake up a moribund party organization. “I’m the outsider. I’m not someone who has been in the DNC organization for decades and has an enormous rolodex of national donors,” he said. “I do have some. But, importantly, if you look here in New York, I’m one of the best fundraisers in state politics.” Skoufis was first elected to the state Assembly at 25, making him the youngest member of the state Legislature. Now 37, he’s won a string of elections over the last decade — a successful Democrat in Republican territory. President-elect Donald Trump won Skoufis’ state Senate district by 12 points. Skoufis won reelection last month by 14. He has easily fended off challenges in a purplish area, and his initial 2018 election to the state Senate helped cement the party’s control of the chamber for the first time in a decade. “I don’t know if there’s anything special about me per se, I just know how to win,” he said. Nationally, Democrats are picking up the pieces following a disappointing election with Republicans in control of both the White House and Congress. In New York, the party flipped three GOP-held House seats — victories Democrats like U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand believe can be replicated across the country. Skoufis has offered an Election Day postmortem of his own: Democrats need to broaden their base, win back labor and quit using terms like “Latinx.” “We have to stop pushing the talking points from the Brookings Institute in trying to convince voters that the economy is doing swimmingly well,” he said. — Nick Reisman
| | | | Want to know what's really happening with Congress's make-or-break spending fights? Get daily insider analysis of Hill negotiations, funding deadlines, and breaking developments—free in your inbox with Inside Congress. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | | 
“One thing’s for sure: President Trump was not in office when we had to spend $6.4 billion that went out of my everyday New Yorkers,” Mayor Eric Adams told 710 WOR. | Yuki Iwamura/AP | HE’S NOT LIKE THEM: Mayor Eric Adams is unlikely to partake in the kind of resistance some of his fellow Democrats may mount against Trump. But he does want to talk with the president-elect’s “border czar” pick. “I made it clear from Day One that we are not in a position to be warring with the president. We are working with the president,” the mayor told 710 WOR. “I’m not going to spend my energy on the next four years sitting in the corner pouting.” Asked by host Rob Astorino, a former GOP Westchester County executive, what message he’d send to Boston, Los Angeles and Denver Dem leaders who’ve pledged to stand up to Trump’s mass deportation agenda, Adams responded, “Here’s what I say to all: I want to speak with the border czar.” Trump nominee Tom Homan has told Fox News he would double the number of federal agents coming to New York City if its officials don’t help ICE. The federally indicted mayor has been friendly with Trump while declining to say whether he would seek the Republican’s pardon. Over the weekend, Adams contrasted the incoming Republican president with outgoing President Joe Biden. “One thing’s for sure: President Trump was not in office when we had to spend $6.4 billion that went out of my everyday New Yorkers,” Adams told 710 WOR, using City Hall’s estimated cost for caring for 200,000 migrants over two years. Adams has said he would uphold sanctuary city laws — while also implying they protect criminals. The laws, though, are not meant to shield individuals convicted of serious or violent crimes. “It should be a sanctuary city for those who want to pursue the American dream, not violate it,” he told the “Latinos Out Loud” podcast. “If you come here and commit a violent act on an innocent person, you’re not pursuing the American dream.” Critics on Adams’ right and left, from GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis to the New York Immigration Coalition, have accused him of mixed messages on immigration. The mayor’s allies have said he has a consistent, down-the-middle approach. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team, told Playbook that “President Trump will serve ALL Americans, even those who did not vote for him in the election. He will unify the country through success.” — Emily Ngo FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Brad Hoylman-Sigal is running for Manhattan Borough president again. The west side state senator finished second to Mark Levine in the 2021 primary, getting 46 percent in the last round of ranked-choice voting. Now with Levine running for comptroller, Hoylman-Sigal sees a path to victory — and fewer visits to Albany. ”Whether it’s dangerous e-bikes, never-ending scaffolding, or people struggling with mental health crises or addiction, there’s work to be done to make our city more livable for everyone,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a press release touting his prolific legislative record in Albany and shared with Playbook ahead of his launch today. Council Member Keith Powers is the only other serious candidate in the race so far. Hoylman-Sigal lost big among Latino voters in 2021 and may face that same problem again. With his pending announcement, Latino leaders including consultant Roberto Ramirez and pundit Gerson Borrero vowed to hold Hoylman-Sigal accountable for siding with labor unions and progressives to torpedo Hector LaSalle’s nomination as chief judge. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Council Member Justin Brannan, a city comptroller candidate, wants Mayor Adams to honor a 2021 campaign promise by raising city medic salaries on par with other first responders. (New York Post) — There are over 58,000 illegal migrants who are convicted felons or facing criminal charges in New York City, new data shows. (New York Post) — A federal judge is likely to put Rikers Island under receivership to try to fix long-standing problems — but it’s not a foolproof fix. (New York Times)
| | | | A message from Uber:   | | | | | NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY | | |  Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this year tried to phase out the so-called “hold harmless” provision, a move that would have led to funding cuts for school districts where student enrollment dropped. | Hans Pennink/AP | FORMULA ONE: The Rockefeller Institute of Government’s report detailing how the state should revamp funding for public school districts is set to drop today – and it could have dire political consequences. Prior efforts to overhaul the foundation aid formula met resistance from suburban lawmakers in both parties who generally represent wealthy school districts. Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this year tried to phase out the so-called “hold harmless” provision, a move that would have led to funding cuts for school districts where student enrollment dropped. Instead, an agreement kicked the specifics over the funding fight to the Rockefeller Institute, an Albany-based think tank. And Hochul and lawmakers this year backed a $1.3 billion hike in school spending for the $239 billion budget. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — A flock of pigeons is delaying public access to a newly renovated Capitol courtyard. (Times Union) — New Yorkers are supportive of term limits and creating laws through direct referendum. (Spectrum News) — State lawmakers used their campaign accounts to charge trips to casino hotels and Bills games. (Buffalo News)
| | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican who regularly touts his bipartisan credentials and won reelection in a bluer Hudson Valley district, vowed to prioritize compromise. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | THE GOP’S SLIM EDGE: House Republicans will return to Washington this week with a historically narrow margin after California Democrat Derek Tran defeated GOP Rep. Michelle Steel last Wednesday. The GOP’s majority will be even more tenuous with a handful of Republicans, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, set to leave for positions in Trump’s Cabinet. Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican who regularly touts his bipartisan credentials and won reelection in a bluer Hudson Valley district, vowed to prioritize compromise. “The fact is, all of us have that responsibility. There's not going to be a lot of room for error here, especially in the early months with three members down. So we're going to be at 217, most likely, or 218,” he told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. As of Sunday night, House Democrats were set to have at least 214 seats next year. Lawler did not say whether he would hold up a government funding bill over the state and local tax deduction, or SALT, but did note Trump has voiced support for lifting the deduction cap — a priority for both parties in highly taxed states like New York and California. “Obviously, the focus will be on the economy, the border, energy policy, the international crises that we are dealing with, tax reform and spending and government reform,” the House member said. “When you look at the issue of taxes, for instance, I have been very clear I will not support a tax bill that does not lift the cap on SALT.” — Emily Ngo SIGN OF THE TIMES: A 100-foot Trump sign. Advice from Roger Stone. Dinner with Don Jr. Anthony Constantino, a professional boxer and founder of the printing company Sticker Mule, has parlayed his fight with an upstate city over his Trump-boosting sign into a House run, POLITICO reports. Constantino’s campaign, in part, is built on counteracting hatred toward the incoming president, he said in an interview. “One of the biggest problems in the country is anti-Trump hate and hatred toward Trump supporters,” he said. The 42-year-old first-time candidate could leapfrog stalwart Republicans who have lined up to run for Stefanik’s northern New York district as she prepares to become Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations. He plans to self-fund his bid with the proceeds earned from Tesla shares he bought. — Nick Reisman More from Congress: — Some House Democrats want to oust leaders like Rep. Jerry Nadler in favor of younger lawmakers who they see as better suited to take on Trump. (New York Times) — Bomb threats made against Dem lawmakers are “unacceptable,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ office says. (POLITICO) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Tim Kennedy want Canada to close a loophole in its immigration laws that’s leading to long lines at northern border crossings. (Watertown Daily Times)
| | | | Policy Change is Coming: Be prepared, be proactive, be a Pro. POLITICO Pro’s platform has 200,000+ energy regulatory documents from California, New York, and FERC. Leverage our Legislative and Regulatory trackers for comprehensive policy tracking across all industries. Learn more. | | | | | | | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | — The demoted priest who’s under federal investigation and whose church was the setting of a Sabrina Carpenter music video has a $2 million real estate portfolio. (New York Post) — Trader Joe’s is suing a New York City wine store, alleging the “Joe” was appropriated. (Gothamist) — Closing arguments are expected to begin today in the trial of Daniel Penny, who was charged in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on the subway last year. (NY1)
| | | | A message from Uber: Study Shows Uber Drivers making over $52k while NYC Heroes Get Left Behind
A new study reveals a growing wage divide in New York City: Uber drivers are making an average of $52,900 a year after expenses, while city employees like EMTs and sanitation workers starting salaries are below $44,000. Since 2020, rideshare drivers have received five pay increases through TLC mandates while many frontline city workers face stagnant wages amid rising living costs. This gap underscores an evolving dynamic in NYC’s workforce, where gig workers see consistent earnings growth while essential city roles lag behind. This pay disparity is raising questions about the city’s priorities and the need for equitable wages in public service amidst the affordability crisis.
Read the full story to see how gig work earnings are reshaping NYC’s labor landscape. Learn More. | | | | | SOCIAL DATA | | Edited by Daniel Lippman WEEKEND WEDDING: Shontell Smith, a Tusk Strategies partner and head of its New York practice, married Keon Plummer at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga. Spotted at the nuptials: Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Deputy Leader Mike Gianaris, Melissa DeRosa, Bradley Tusk, Sens. Jamaal Bailey and Zellnor Myrie, former Assemblymember Diana Richardson, Dana Carotenuto, Stacey Lynch, Chris Coffey, Jason Goldman, Erik Katz, Adrienne Harris, Miguelina Camilo, Brian Benjamin, Jonathan Lang, Alex Sommer, Joanna Schmidt, Meaghan Collins, Laura Manno, Norah Yahya, Josefa Velasquez and Camille Joseph. PHOTOS. MEDIAWATCH: Emmy-winning investigative reporter Rachel Yonkunas claims she was abruptly fired from News12 Long Island after calling out her bosses for shortchanging her on resources and air time, according to a lawsuit. (New York Post) HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Assemblymember and Brooklyn Democratic Party Leader Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn … George Fontas … Marc La Vorgna … Lawrence A. Mandelker … Margo Catsimatidis … Denis McDonough … NBC’s Chris Berend … ABC’s Brad Mielke … Liz Rosenberg … Stone Phillips … Merck’s Johanna Herrmann … Sam Schneider … (WAS SUNDAY): Jen Psaki … Assemblymember Andy Goodell … Peter Kalikow … John Mancuso … NYT’s Carlos Prieto … Yochi Dreazen … Natalie Wyeth Earnest … JS Kim … (WAS SATURDAY): NYS AFL-CIO’s Mario Cilento … Cozen’s Jamie Ansorge … POLITICO’S Erica Orden … Larry Summers (7-0) … Keith Powers Chief Ben Jacobs … Lauren Pratapas … Michael Beschloss … CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski … Alex Clearfield of Bloomberg Industry Group … Jodi Rudoren of The Forward … Reuters’ Jonathan Landay … James Sonne … Michael Bistreich … former Assemblymember Bob Reilly … José Bayona, founder of Grassroots Strategies … (WAS FRIDAY): Assemblymember Amy Paulin … Marco Carrión … Chirlane McCray … Rahm Emanuel … Margaret Carlson … CNN’s Pamela Brown … Alexandra Ulmer … Chris Frates of Storyline … Geoffrey Ogunlesi … Tomá Hunt-Beczak … Alissa de Carbonnel … (WAS THURSDAY): Former Rep. Max Rose … Jonathan Lemire … Neal Kwatra … HPD’s Gabby Eiss … Judy Rapfogel … CBS’ Susan Spencer … CNN’s Tim Skoczek … Bryan Corbett of the Managed Funds Association … FTI Consulting’s Chris Tucker and Mickeala Carter … former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff … Elaine Sciolino … | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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