Jon Ossoff

Before embarking upon his career in journalism and media production, Ossoff worked as a national security aide for Democratic Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04), handling defense, foreign affairs, intelligence, and economic policy. In 2012, Ossoff left Congress to pursue his career in investigative journalism, taking over as the CEO of Insight TWI, a then-20-year-old, multi-Emmy award-winning investigative television production company.

In 2017, after learning that Republican Representative Tom Price (GA-06) had been appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services by then president-elect Donald Trump, Ossoff announced his candidacy for the special election to fill that seat. Ossoff quickly emerged as the most viable Democratic candidate out of a large field, receiving endorsements from several prominent state Democrats. When he entered the race, the Cook Partisan Voting Index rated Georgia’s 6th congressional district as R+14; the district was not considered competitive and had been represented in Congress by Republicans since 1978. On April 18, 2017, the special election for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District was held in which Ossoff led with 48.1% of the vote and Republican Karen Handel came in second with 19.8%. The two advanced to a runoff race held on June 20, 2017. Ossoff raised over $23 million, breaking fundraising records, while Handel’s campaign received significant support from super PACs. Despite strong Democratic turnout, Ossoff was defeated by Handel in the runoff race by 3 points (9,282 votes). The race, which at the time became the most expensive House election in U.S. history, was seen as a narrow loss for Democrats, highlighting the GOP’s advantage in the district. Ossoff’s efforts to win this special election became one of the most competitive Congressional races ever, in which he mobilized the strongest Democratic Special Election voter turnout in over a decade, doubled youth turnout from the 2014 midterm, and produced the highest-ever turnout for a stand-alone House Special Election of all time. This also launched Ossoff’s political career in Georgia.

Following his first attempt to run for office, Ossoff entered the 2020 Senate election in Georgia to unseat incumbent Senator David Perdue. Ossoff easily secured the Democratic nomination. By the end of his campaign, Ossoff raised over $162 million , making him one of the highest-raising Senate candidates in U.S. history. In the general election, Perdue received 49.73% of the vote (2,462,617 votes), while Ossoff received 47.95% of the vote (2,374,519 votes). Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, Perdue and Ossoff advanced to a January 5, 2021, runoff election. Ossoff successfully defeated Perdue in the runoff election by less than one point (54,944 votes).

Georgia held the Democratic and Republican primary elections for this Senate contest on May 19, 2026. Sen. Ossoff faced no serious opposition and easily secured the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, two-term Representative Mike Collins (GA-10) faced off against former football coach Derek Dooley; neither candidate received a majority of the vote in the initial primary, triggering a runoff. The Republican runoff was held on June 16, 2026, with Rep. Collins defeating Dooley in order to secure the Republican nomination.

In a poll from Fox News conducted by Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research between June 23 and June 27, amongst 1,000 likely Georgia voters, found Sen. Ossoff leading Rep. Collins by 13 points. In a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, Sen. Ossoff earned 56% of the vote, while Rep. Collins received 43% of the vote. Only 1% of those surveyed indicated they were still undecided. Of those surveyed, Sen. Ossoff had support from Black voters (87%), those under age 30 (68%), independents (68%), moderates (66%), and women under 45 (66%). Meanwhile, Rep. Collins’ best groups include White evangelical Christians (79%), White men without a college degree (65%), and rural voters (55%).

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