Ocasio-Cortez's Raleigh visit postponed

Progressive congresswoman and possible 2028 presidential candidate Rep. Alexandris Ocasio-Cortez's Raleigh visit has been postponed, according to event organizers.

The New York Democrat was originally scheduled to attend a rally with the North Carolina Democratic Party on Sunday.

This cancellation comes a day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in broad daylight during an event at a Utah college.

Ocasio-Cortez has been on a nationwide tour with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), dubbed the "Fighting Oligarchy Tour." They've brought large crowds at previous visits — including visits last month to Asheville and Greensboro by Sanders that drew thousands of people, according to local media reports.

Ocasio-Cortez wasn't at those two recent North Carolina rallies, however, and it wasn't clear if Sanders will be at the Raleigh rally on Sunday, or if the rally will officially be part of that anti-oligarchy push. The Democratic Party said only that the congresswoman, who's known by her initials AOC, will be joined by "other special guests."

Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders have faced accusations of hypocrisy from some on the right, over their spending on charter flights and hotels during their travels around the country advocating for working-class people and against wealthy interests.

It comes as the 2026 midterms heat up with North Carolina once again in the national spotlight.

The race to replace Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis has drawn several contenders, including former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley. Democrats will be looking to flip that seat, while Republicans seek to flip the competitive U.S. House seat in eastern North Carolina held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis, as well as a state Supreme Court seat held by Democratic Justice Anita Earls.

Ocasio-Cortez's tour also comes as polling shows that she's one of the top favorites of Democratic voters to win their party's nomination for president in 2028, along with other contenders including Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris, who lost the 2024 race to Republican President Donald Trump. Harris also plans to visit North Carolina soon, stopping in Durham on Oct. 15 as part of a nationwide book tour.