Democrat Jon Ossoff announces bid to unseat GOP Sen. David Perdue

Democrat Jon Ossoff announced on Monday he is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, challenging incumbent Sen. David Perdue (R).

Ossoff, 32, received national attention in 2017 as the Democratic candidate in a special election in Georgia's 6th Congressional District, then a GOP stronghold. He narrowly lost the election to Republican Karen Handel, who was later defeated in 2018 by Democrat Lucy McBath. Ossoff told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday that he is challenging Perdue because the incumbent is "one of the least effective and most out-of-touch members of the U.S. Senate."

In 2017, Ossoff raised about $30 million, and he said he plans on having "a grassroots army unlike any this state has ever seen." He is the fourth Democrat to join the race against Perdue, but the only one to have the endorsement of Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who said Ossoff "sparked a flame that is burning brighter than ever. Like the many thousands Jon has already organized and inspired, I am ready to work tirelessly to elect him. Georgia and America need Jon."

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Ossoff told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he will bring attention to the problem of poverty in rural Georgia, the alarming maternal mortality rate in the state, and government spending. "We have squandered trillions on endless war," he said. "We have squandered trillions on bailouts for failed banks. We have squandered trillions on tax cuts for wealthy donors. Then we're told there's nothing left over for the people. The corruption must be rooted out." For more on Ossoff, including where he stands on issues like gun control and climate change, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.