Jon Ossoff is challenging first-term Senator David Perdue (R) in one of two Georgia Senate contests this year. Perdue, who is a down-the-line supporter of President Trump, has been caught up in allegations about his stock trades at the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.
On November 3, the two candidates were closely matched, with Perdue ahead by less than two points. Now, the two candidates will face a runoff on January 5 as required by Georgia law after neither candidate exceeded 50% of the votes.
Georgia has been dramatically shifting from its Republican roots in recent years as fast growing suburbs around Atlanta and elsewhere have swung toward the Democrats. President-Elect Joe Biden carried the state by a narrow margin. In addition, two close Georgia House races went to Democrats in the recent election.
Ossoff is an experienced candidate with a solid background on national security issues. He has a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics. Ossoff worked as a national security aide to Rep. Hank Johnson for five years. He now leads a business that produces investigations targeting war crimes, corrupt officials, and organized crime for international news organizations.
In 2017, Ossoff ran in a special House election. While he broke national fundraising records for a House candidate and became a national sensation, he fell just short in the contest. That electoral experience has shaped his race this time, evident through his strong November 3 finish.
If elected, nuclear non-proliferation and global nuclear weapons reductions will be among Ossoff’s top priorities.
