Sep 9, 2019

Jon Ossoff announces run for U.S. Senate in Georgia

Rebecca Falconer

Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff delivers a concession speechat the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North Hotel — Democrat Jon Ossoff delivers a concession speech in Atlanta, Georgia, after his congressional election loss in 2017. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Former Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) Monday that he intends to challenge Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) in the race for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.

Why it matters: With former Fortune 500 chief executive Perdue up for re-election and Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson resigning, Georgia will be home to 2 of the most closely watched Senate races in the country in 2020, the New York Times notes.

Details: Ossoff told the AJC he would "mount a ruthless assault on corruption in our political system" and "raise a grassroots army unlike any this state has ever seen" by expanding the network of supporters who helped him raise roughly $30 million in the 2017 special election.

Background: Ossoff narrowly lost the 2017 Georgia 6th special election — despite millions of dollars the Democratic Party pumped to back him.

The big picture: Per the AJC, the 32-year-old former documentary filmmaker is due to formally announce his candidacy on Tuesday, making him the 4th and arguably best-known Democrat in the race against the first-term Republican Perdue, who has strong ties to President Trump.

What they're saying: Democratic Rep. John Lewis has already endorsed Ossoff.

"Like the many thousands Jon has already organized and inspired, I am ready to work tirelessly to elect him. Georgia and America need Jon."

— Rep. John Lewis' comments to AJC

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Add Axios on Google

Jon Ossoff announces run for U.S. Senate in Georgia

What to read next