“She’ll see what the field looks like,” said Ocasio-Cortez’s communications director, Corbin Trent. “She’s focused on 2018, [Bernie’s] focused on 2018. We’re all focused on 2018.”

The revelation from Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign was first reported in a Politico article with the premise that those who supported Sanders in 2016 are potentially looking past him to a fresher representative of his cause.

“I think that if a younger candidate can pick up the mantle and have Bernie’s support, I think that would be a better option for 2020. I feel like 60 to 70 percent of former staffers are looking around for another Bernie-esque candidate this time around, even if it’s not him,” said Daniel Deriso, a field organizer for Sanders’ 2016 campaign.