Georgia Republican Sen. David Perdue is fighting to win his second term, facing Democratic filmmaker Jon Ossoff in November.
The contest offers a chance of political redemption for Ossoff, who mounted a failed bid for Congress in 2017 during a special election in Georgia’s 6th District. Early in President Trump’s tenure, Ossoff became a resistance hero of sorts, attracting national attention and money. The race for the suburban Atlanta seat turned into one of the most expensive House races ever, with both Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel raising over $55 million combined.
Although Ossoff lost that race by over 2.5 points, he has remained a rising star in both the Georgia and national Democratic Party. Ossoff easily secured the Democratic nomination for Senate in June, winning over 52% of the vote.
And his contest against Perdue, a former Reebok executive, is important to both parties as they jockey for a Senate majority after the 2020 election. Republicans currently hold an edge in the chamber, with 53 seats.
Democrats haven’t won a Georgia Senate seat in over 20 years, with former Sen. Max Cleland losing his reelection race to former Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss in 2002.
Perdue won the Senate seat in 2014 after defeating three sitting House members in the Republican primary. He is a staunch supporter of Trump’s agenda, particularly immigration restrictions.
The race remains the GOP’s to lose, with most election analysts saying the seat leans Republican. But unpredictable national electoral trends indicate the Republicans will continue pouring tremendous resources into keeping Perdue’s seat. More likely than not, whether Trump or Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins the state in November should bring enough coattails to drag their Senate candidate over the finish line.
Along with Georgia, other key Senate battlegrounds include Arizona, Iowa, Maine, and Michigan.
