Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

The internet is reading into what Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is reading.

The Democratic congresswoman from New York’s endorsement of “Boss Lincoln: The Partisan Life of Abraham Lincoln” is intensifying speculation that she’s running for president in 2028.

Ocasio-Cortez, a political lightning rod who is among the leading contenders of potential 2028 Democratic presidential nominees, offered the recommendation after being asked by journalist Pablo Manriquez of MeidasTouch.

“I was just gifted a book that I’m about to crack open called ‘Boss Lincoln,’ about kind of the lost years where Lincoln left office and was kind of building a political machine before he ran for the presidency,” Ocasio-Cortez said, “and so that was a book that I was gifted, and so I’m probably gonna crack that one open.”

Like Ocasio-Cortez, Lincoln was a member of the House of Representatives. The Republican from Illinois then ran for Illinois’s U.S. Senate seat in 1858, losing to Stephen Douglas but gaining popularity through his performances in the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

Lincoln then won the presidency in 1860.

Political observers suggested Ocasio-Cortez’s book recommendation is putting her on a similar career trajectory to Lincoln.

“‘It’s about the lost years when Lincoln was building a political machine before he ran for the presidency.’ [S]he’s running,” tweeted one X user.

“She’s running,” added another. “AOC2028!”

“I see you, girl,” said a third.

A fourth user joked that Ocasio-Cortez’s career path will directly mirror Lincoln’s; she has also been subject to speculation she’ll mount a primary challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in 2028.

“Guy who thinks this means she’s planning losing a run for Senate before she runs for President,” an X user said.