Ossoff dismisses 2028 speculation, insists focus is on midterms
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) has categorically denied any ambition to run for president in 2028, telling an interviewer on MS NOW: "Let me reiterate. I have zero interest in running for president in 2028 and, frankly, zero interest in the 2028 fantasy football right now." He offered the same answer during a July 23 call with reporters. The Georgia Democrat, who is defending his Senate seat in the 2026 midterm elections, argued that speculation about the next presidential cycle distracts Democrats from the immediate task at hand.
"I don't know that we have a free and fair election in 2028 unless we restore checks and balances in these 2026 midterm elections," Ossoff said, urging supporters to "leave it all on the field, have no regrets, and win a decisive victory this fall." He noted that Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is traveling to Georgia to campaign alongside him, saying Kelly "also recognizes that these midterms are the whole ballgame."
The Trump exchange that fueled speculation
The renewed speculation stems partly from Ossoff's recent attacks on President Trump. At a campaign rally on Sunday, Ossoff took an unusually personal swipe at Trump, saying: "He doesn't want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie [Harp] on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar." Trump responded by mocking Ossoff's appearance and comparing him to the television character Pee-wee Herman.
That exchange, reported by the Washington Examiner, is the kind of direct confrontation that has made Ossoff increasingly appealing to some Democrats online. In a separate speech, Ossoff said: "Our task is not just to contain his wickedness but to cure the rot that gave rise to it."
A surge in attention and poll numbers
Ossoff's national profile has surged in recent weeks as clips of his combative attacks on Trump rack up attention online, with supporters comparing him to former President Barack Obama. The senator, who at 39 is the first millennial to serve in the Senate, has seen his 2028 prospects rise in prediction markets, with his chances of capturing the Democratic nomination roughly tripling since the spring, according to a report by the Washington Examiner.
Recent polling has Ossoff holding an average lead of nearly 8 percentage points over Republican Rep. Mike Collins in the Georgia Senate race. An Emerson College survey also found Ossoff ahead of both Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in hypothetical 2028 matchups. Trump carried Georgia by roughly 3 percentage points in the 2024 election, and Ossoff is the only Senate Democrat defending a seat in a state Trump won.
Democratic strategist James Carville told the Washington Examiner: "He's gotten a lot of attention for a senator running for reelection. I mean, he's a very skilled guy. You know, he saw it as an opening, and he took it. And he's got a very bright future in American politics." Left-wing commentator Jeremiah Johnson predicted that a decisive Ossoff victory in November would send 2028 recruitment efforts "into turbo mode," while former Republican strategist Sarah Longwell posted a photo of Ossoff with the caption "President-maxxing so hard."
Skeptics urge caution
Not all strategists are convinced the buzz portends a 2028 run. Democratic strategist Michael Ceraso said the phenomenon reflects "people's obsession of trying to create a moment," and cautioned against reading too much into the reaction before the midterms. He said Democrats should "try to create new moments." Brad Bannon, another Democratic strategist, noted that "a senator running for reelection in 2026 is not going to take a break to announce to voters that he's planning to turn around and run for president in 2028," but also said "the Democratic race is wide open," and if he were Ossoff, he'd be exploring a presidential race now.
Ossoff has pointed out that he has "zero interest" in the "2028 fantasy football" and opposed Trump's request to fund "defense soon for the 2028 cycle." He has been a leading voice in the party's effort to confront Trump directly, a role that has drawn comparisons to Obama.
Biden's record and the road ahead
Ossoff first won his Senate seat in a 2020 runoff, defeating Republican incumbent David Perdue. His endorsers include the mayors and local officials, including Republican mayors in southern Georgia. At an Atlanta rally, supporters mentioned his constituent services, with one resident praising him for being the first to call after a natural disaster.
His record in the Senate includes a vote against certain arms sales to Israel, aligning with left-wing critics, and a vote for the Laken Riley Act. He has faced attacks from Collins, his Republican opponent, who at a rally called him "a trust fund kid" who has "never had a real job in his life."
Political analysts have noted that Democrats historically have succeeded with more Southern-suave presidential candidates, citing Bill and Jimmy Carter. Brad Bannon noted that media coverage of Georgia may spill over into South Carolina, boosting basics among Democratic voters.
For now, Ossoff pours his energy into the 2026 election, with notable surrogates like Kelly joining him on the trail. The party's internal debate, though, continues to swirl around Ossoff's future, whether for the White House or back to the Senate floor.
Perspectives
- James Carville (Democratic strategist): Ossoff is a skilled candidate who "saw it as an opening" and took it. His rise is due to his ability to confront Trump directly, and he has "a very bright future in American politics."
- Brad Bannon (Democratic strategist): He notes that no sitting senator would publicly declare a 2028 bid while running for reelection, but he says the Democratic field is "wide open" and if he were Ossoff, he'd be exploring a run now.
- Michael Ceraso (Democratic strategist): The attention Ossoff is getting reflects "people's obsession of trying to create a moment," but it's overblown before the midterms; the party should "try to create new moments."