Jon Ossoff wins reelection in Georgia: eyeing the White House?

Democratic Senator for Georgia Jon Ossoff won the US midterm congressional elections comfortably, taking 59 percent to 41 against his Republican opponent, Mike Collins. Despite the modest stance of the 39-year-old politician himself, a growing number of American analysts are naming him as a possible presidential candidate in 2028.

The victory was so convincing that Decision Desk, an independent organization that tracks election results, called Ossoff’s re-election just 18 minutes after the polls closed. CNN political analyst Kasie Hunt immediately declared: “Tonight is the first day of Jon Ossoff’s presidential campaign.”

Obama’s backing and the Kennedy comparison

One reason the senator is increasingly discussed as a future presidential candidate is the active support of former US President Barack Obama. In the final days before the vote, Obama spoke at Democratic rallies in Michigan, Ohio and Georgia, calling Ossoff “the only sensible choice” in this election.

At a rally on October 28, Obama went even further, comparing the young senator to John F. Kennedy. According to Obama, it is not just that Ossoff looks poised and level-headed, reminiscent of Kennedy. He also learned from his mentor, John Lewis, who later became a mentor to Obama himself, how to “make good trouble,” as Obama put it, and that is exactly what will work in his favor.

Many took these words as a significant political signal. There are indeed plenty of parallels between the two politicians’ careers: both made their name through oratory, energetic public appearances and a skillful handling of the media. Before entering politics, Ossoff was a documentary film producer, and today he runs his social media accounts with great success.

Ossoff himself denies any ambitions

Interestingly, Ossoff brushes off presidential plans in almost the same words Obama once used. In April he said he was “not at all interested in running for president in 2028” and warned that talk about the next election could distract from the political issues of the day.

Experts think otherwise. American pollster Nate Silver believes the Georgia senator could be the Democrats’ strongest candidate in 2028: “Ossoff would be my first choice — he’s the one I’d pick first.” The senator’s main advantage, in Silver’s view, is his moderate political stance. In recent years Democrats have been trying to broaden their electoral base in states that traditionally lean Republican, and politicians like Ossoff can count on more votes than candidates with strongly progressive views.

Ossoff’s campaign team stressed that he was the only Democratic senator fighting for re-election in a state that Trump won. Former Vice President and Trump’s election rival Kamala Harris also campaigned for his re-election.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz