Jon Ossoff, Memorable Loser Of 2017 House Race, Now Running For Senate
Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff delivers a concession speech during his election night party on June 20, 2017 in Atlanta. Image by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
By Ron Kampeas September 10, 2019
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Jon Ossoff, a Jewish investigative documentarian who lost a close 2017 race for the U.S. House of Representatives, is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia.
Georgia is seen as a possible pickup for Senate Democrats in 2020 as they seek control of the body. Republicans will be defending more seats.
Ossoff, who announced his bid Tuesday, lost his House bid in a close race in suburban Atlanta. The tight contest in a typically strong Republican district was seen as the first sign that President Trump was galvanizing liberal opponents. Republicans lost the seat in 2018 to Lucy McBath, whose son was killed in gun violence.
Georgia unusually has two Senate elections next year: Incumbent Republican David Perdue is up for re-election, and Johnny Isakson, the other incumbent Republican, announced his retirement effective Dec. 31. Georgia’s Republican governor will name a replacement for Isakson who will serve through next year.
Ossoff, 32, weathered what is believed to be the most expensive House campaign in history, eventually costing donors on both sides an estimated $55 million.
He is the fourth Democrat to enter the primary. Ossoff has the endorsement of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., the civil rights icon who is a major influence in the state. Ossoff once interned for Lewis.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
