Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez signaled Monday that she has no plans to back a primary challenge against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, distancing herself from a push by New York City Council member Chi Ossé that has unsettled Democratic circles in the city and on Capitol Hill.

Speaking briefly with Axios outside the House chamber, Ocasio-Cortez said she was not aware Ossé had filed paperwork to explore a run against Jeffries. But when asked whether she would support such a challenge, she didn’t hesitate. “I certainly don’t think a primary challenge to the leader is a good idea right now,” she said.

Some progressive leaders say that momentum shouldn’t automatically translate into a challenge against Jeffries, the highest-ranking Democrat in the House and a figure many see as central to the party’s effort to regain the majority next year.

Ocasio-Cortez is not alone in urging caution. Adam Green, who heads the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told Politico that “it is not the right moment to launch a primary challenge against Hakeem Jeffries.” Mamdani, who like Ossé is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, also seemed to pour cold water on the idea on Monday. He argued that New York Democrats should be channeling their energy into affordability issues at home and mounting a unified challenge to what he called “the authoritarian administration in the White House.”

Ossé filed his initial paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Monday, signaling his interest in challenging Jeffries in a district that covers parts of Brooklyn. In a statement, he said he is “exploring” a run because he believes Democratic leadership is failing to meet the political moment. He criticized party leaders for what he views as an inability to mount an effective opposition to Donald Trump and for lacking a compelling vision that energizes voters.

Jeffries, for his part, brushed off the talk of a challenge. At a press conference Monday, he quipped, “Come on in, the water is warm,” signaling he sees little threat from a potential opponent.

The feud — or non-feud, depending on who’s talking — highlights the ongoing tension between the Democratic Party’s establishment and its ascendant left wing. Ocasio-Cortez has often occupied a middle space between the two, publicly challenging party leadership when she believes it’s warranted while also urging pragmatism in moments she believes unity matters more.

Still, her measured response Monday reflected an awareness of the stakes. Jeffries is not only a powerful figure but the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress, and challenging him would be a deeply symbolic move, regardless of Ossé’s intentions.

Ocasio-Cortez declined to weigh in on other potential primary battles, including a possible run by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander against Rep. Dan Goldman. For now, at least, she appears focused on keeping her party’s internal divisions from overshadowing the broader political fight ahead.