Jon Ossoff

Jon Ossoff
Name	Jon Ossoff
Caption	Official portrait, 2021
State	Georgia
Jr/sr	United States Senator
Alongside	Raphael Warnock
Term start	January 20, 2021
Predecessor	David Perdue
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Alisha Kramer, 2017
Education	Georgetown University (BS), London School of Economics (MS)
Birth date	16 February 1987
Birth place	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

Jon Ossoff is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Georgia since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected in the 2021 runoff election, defeating incumbent Republican senator David Perdue. His election, alongside that of Senator Raphael Warnock, gave the Democratic Party control of the United States Senate during the 117th United States Congress. Prior to his Senate career, Ossoff was a documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist.

Early life and education

Jon Ossoff was born in Atlanta and raised in the city's northern suburbs. He attended Paideia School, a private institution in DeKalb County, where he developed an early interest in politics. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Science, Technology, and International Affairs from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. Following his undergraduate studies, Ossoff received a Master of Science in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.

Early career

Before entering electoral politics, Ossoff built a career in investigative journalism and media production. He worked as a national security aide to Hank Johnson, the U.S. representative for Georgia's 4th congressional district. In 2013, he founded Insight TWI, a documentary film production company that produced investigative reports for international outlets like Al Jazeera. His company's work focused on corruption and organized crime in various global hotspots. In 2017, he was the Democratic nominee in the special election for Georgia's 6th congressional district, which became the most expensive House race in history at that time, though he ultimately lost to Karen Handel.

U.S. Senate career

Ossoff was sworn into the United States Senate on January 20, 2021, following his victory in the January runoff. He serves on several influential committees, including the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on Rules and Administration, and the Select Committee on Intelligence. He has been a key vote for the Democratic agenda, supporting major legislation like the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. He has also focused on issues specific to Georgia, such as Port of Savannah expansion and Atlanta airport modernization.

Political positions

Ossoff identifies as a mainstream Democrat, advocating for progressive economic policies and institutional reform. He is a strong supporter of voting rights legislation, having co-sponsored the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. He supports expanding the Affordable Care Act, implementing comprehensive climate change policy, and reforming the filibuster to pass voting rights bills. On foreign policy, he takes a generally internationalist stance, supporting robust alliances like NATO and aid to Ukraine following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He has also worked on bipartisan efforts, such as a law to prevent stock trading by members of Congress and their spouses.

Electoral history

Ossoff's first major campaign was the 2017 special election for Georgia's 6th congressional district, where he led a crowded jungle primary but lost the runoff to Karen Handel. He launched his campaign for the United States Senate in 2020, challenging incumbent Republican David Perdue. In the November general election, neither candidate secured a majority, triggering a runoff election under Georgia state law. The subsequent January 5, 2021, runoff coincided with another Senate runoff featuring Raphael Warnock and Kelly Loeffler. Ossoff defeated Perdue, and Warnock defeated Loeffler, with both races drawing unprecedented national attention and record-breaking spending.

Personal life

Ossoff is married to Alisha Kramer, a physician and medical school professor at Emory University. The couple, who met while students at Georgetown University, married in 2017 and have a young daughter and son. They reside in Atlanta. Ossoff is Jewish, and his faith has informed his advocacy against antisemitism and his support for the security of Israel. In his spare time, he is an avid reader of history and biography.

Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from Georgia Category:Democratic Party United States senators Category:Georgetown University alumni Category:London School of Economics alumni