Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) rebuffed speculation about his aims on the 2028 presidential election, countering that he was focused on the 2026 midterm elections.
Ossoff’s recent posturing, including his reference to a female aide to President Donald Trump, has led to widespread speculation that he has plans to run for president in 2028. The Georgia senator pleaded ignorance when asked about such plans in an interview on MS NOW, claiming he has no intention to pursue higher office.
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“Let me reiterate. I have zero interest in running for president in 2028 and, frankly, zero interest in the 2028 fantasy football right now,” Ossoff said.
Responding to speculation that he could run on a joint ticket with Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), he noted that Kelly was traveling to Georgia on Tuesday to campaign alongside him, as he “also recognizes that these midterms are the whole ballgame.”
“So, with all due respect … 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. This needs to be all of our highest priority and our focus,” Ossoff continued, urging people to contribute to Democratic campaigns in any way they can.
“Let’s leave it all on the field, have no regrets, and win a decisive victory this fall,” he concluded.
Ossoff’s image revamp includes a switch to what observers have noted apes the aesthetics and cadence of former President Barack Obama. His image as a normal white male has also been viewed as a much-needed answer to the cultural backlash against the Democratic Party’s leftward turn in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
His pairing with Kelly, another publicly presenting centrist Democrat, reflects a wider effort by the Democratic Party to sanitize its image after a dismal reception in 2024. Other possible 2028 candidates with a centrist bent include Govs. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), Wes Moore (D-MD), and Andy Beshear (D-KY).
JON OSSOFF CLEARLY HAS HIS EYES ON SOMETHING BEYOND HIS SENATE SEAT
Trump has been particularly dismissive of Ossoff’s attacks, including the senator’s criticism that the president would rather “travel with” White House aide Natalie Harp than be president, calling him a “Pee-wee Herman look-alike,” referring to a comedic children’s character.
“No, I would much rather do other things. We’re building a great facility here. We’re fixing a White House that hasn’t been taken care of,” Trump told reporters when asked to respond to Ossoff. “This room was a disgraceful situation in the Oval Office, and it was let go. The whole building, the White House, was let go.”
