Rising Democratic star Jon Ossoff’s reelection fuels presidential prospects
AI generated
ATLANTA, Georgia -
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reelection → rise → prospects
Jon Ossoff’s reelection on Nov 3 to the Senate in the southern state of Georgia will fuel speculation of a 2028 presidential run by one of the Democratic Party’s young rising stars.
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reelection → fuel → stars
While the 39-year-old has said that he has “zero interest in running for president,” his victory in Georgia bolsters his status in the Democratic Party two years before the next presidential vote.
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victory → say → vote
NBC News and CBS News called the race in Ossoff’s favour, as he fended off a challenge from Republican Mike Collins in a state that President Donald Trump won in 2024.
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Trump → call → 2024
The victory does not mean the Democratic Party gained a seat in the 100-member Senate, but it is nevertheless good news for the Democrats.
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it → mean → Democrats
Some of his supporters, including 26-year-old nurse Gracie Surface, told AFP that she hopes he runs for president.
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he → include → president
“We need him.
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We → need → him
We need some young blood,” she said after casting her vote in Atlanta, Georgia.
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she → need → Atlanta
Ossoff, who has appeared with rolled-up shirt sleeves and a youthful vibe, has already drawn comparisons to former president Barack Obama, who appeared on the campaign trail to support him.
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who → appear → him
Ossoff has also delivered blistering speeches criticising Trump, attacking the president’s handling of the US war on Iran and accusing him of profiting from his office.
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Ossoff → deliver → office
His comments on Trump’s loyal aide Natalie Harp, in particular, made headlines and drew Trump’s ire over the summer.
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comments → make → summer
“The president sleeps through his meetings.
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president → sleep → meetings
He golfs and trades stocks.
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He → golf → stocks
He doesn’t want to do the job,” Ossoff told a campaign rally in August.
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Ossoff → want → August
“He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenceless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar,” Ossoff added, referring to the 35-year-old former television news personality who has been a constant presence by Trump’s side.
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who → want → side
His comments thrust Harp further into the spotlight, setting the internet alight – and angering the White House.
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comments → thrust → House
Trump has since dismissed Ossoff as a “Pee-wee Herman lookalike,” while White House communications director Steven Cheung called the lawmaker “the biggest cuck loser in politics,” using internet slang for a submissive man.
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Cheung → dismiss → man
Still, Ossoff’s supporters praise his authenticity and ability to transcend partisan divides to bring people together across party lines.
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supporters → praise → lines
He shows the “sign of a true leader,” said Catherine Urbain, who works in the healthcare sector.
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who → show → sector
comparisons
“When he speaks, I think of Barack Obama,” said Mary, a canvasser in her 60s who did not give her last name.
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who → speak → name
“I think it’s because he’s empathetic.
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he → think → ?
He’s real,” she said.
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she → ’ → ?
Obama, the first Black US president, remains a giant within the Democratic Party.
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Obama → remain → Party
Others like Jan Callum, a 77-year-old retired teacher, said Ossoff is “very articulate” but added that it is difficult to compare between the politicians.
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it → say → politicians
Still, Obama’s travel to rally support for Ossoff has given further substance to a comparison earlier drawn by The New York Times.
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travel → rally → Times
Urbain reminisced on attending a rally for former Democratic nominee Kamala Harris two years ago when Ossoff took the stage.
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Ossoff → reminisce → stage
“When I heard him speak then, I was like: ‘This man is phenomenal.
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man → hear → ?
He’s going to be president,’” she recalled.
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she → go → ?
“I feel he’s authentic, he cares but also that he’s not scared to stand up,” she added.
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she → feel → ?
“I feel that he’s one of the few that really doesn’t let Trump get away.”
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Trump → feel → few
Ossoff made a major political breakthrough in 2021, flipping a Republican-held Senate seat as he won a runoff election.
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he → make → election
At 33, he became the youngest senator for that legislative term.
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he → become → term
Previously, he was an aide to civil rights icon John Lewis, and before entering politics, he ran a documentary film production firm, focusing particularly on corruption.
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he → enter → corruption
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