Why Everyone Wants Jon Ossoff to Run for President

[applegrove]

Why Everyone Wants Jon Ossoff to Run for President

June 14, 2026 at 4:25 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 307 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2026/06/14/why-everyone-wants-jon-ossoff-to-run-for-president/

Michelle Goldberg: “If you were cooking up an ideal 2028 candidate in a lab, he — and let’s face it, it’s probably a he — would look a lot like Ossoff. He’s young and handsome, with a picture-perfect family: a beautiful wife who works as an obstetrician-gynecologist and two small daughters. He’s a Southerner from a reddish state with a history of wooing Black voters. And he’s a Jewish critic of Israel who, as much as anyone in politics today, has the potential to bridge the Democratic Party’s agonizing divide over Zionism.”

“But the excitement Ossoff is generating is about more than demographics. It stems from his skill in eviscerating Trump’s gluttonous profiteering, his brazen attempts to turn this country into the most squalid sort of kleptocracy.”

[senseandsensibility]

1. I think he has the "it" factor

A few weeks ago he was trending on bluesky and I read the comments. Females were oohing and awing over how "hot" he was, in addition to all the comments about how he was sticking it to trump. Hey, whatever it takes. He seems to have the charisma and the ability to go on offense that we have been in need of for a while now.

[MustLoveBeagles]

2. I'd support him

[whathehell]

41. I agree

He does it for me

[yorkster]

3. Couldn't agree more. He's got it all, including

the 🔥. Don't usually weigh in this early, but he's unique.

[MustLoveBeagles]

5. I don't either but I like him

Maybe a woman or Buttgieg for a running mate? Just spit balling.

[QueerDuck]

4. "Everyone" is a bit of an overstatement. (I'm not in that group.)

I imagine that Mr. Goddard has a very small circle of friends or colleagues with whom he's been chatting to arrive at such a conclusion.

[mr715]

7. Do you have a preferred candidate?

I'm not saying you state it here, but does one exist for you in your head this early?

I think I have one, but it is so, so soon for me to devote bandwidth for this.

[QueerDuck]

55. Not yet. It's still early. But this "endorsement" reeks of overconfidence.

[MineralMan]

13. Do tell.

Try educating instead of insulting. Works better.

[BannonsLiver]

20. Given your response to the OP and your bizarrely hostile feelings toward a leading Democrat.

Id invite you to maybe consider taking your own advice.

[MineralMan]

22. Maybe we should consider Oprah

again. Too early. Wrong focus.

[BannonsLiver]

24. So you're comparing a very bright, soon to be twice elected U.S. Senator in a red state, to a talk show host?

[Fiendish Thingy]

6. Colour me intrigued

I’d like to know more about who he accepts donations from, but what I’ve seen so far, I like.

[BannonsLiver]

9. No worries. We got this.

Last edited Mon Jun 15, 2026, 04:18 PM - Edit history (1)

[MineralMan]

14. More insults?

[MineralMan]

8. "Handsome' with a "beautiful' wife, eh?

What sort of qualifications are those?

Nope. you'll have to do way better than that to get my support.

This is why we lose.

[BannonsLiver]

11. So you're otherwise unfamiliar with Ossoff?

[MineralMan]

12. Relatively, yes.

Most people are. So, leading with appearance attributes is probably not the best approach.

As I said, that is why we lose.

[mountain grammy]

29. It really feels like you have a problem with Senator Ossoff

and that's fine and strickly your opinion, but don't be coy about it. Come on out and tell us why we lose with someone like him?

[BannonsLiver]

43. It's bizarre that you'd take that out on Ossoff rather than Michelle Goldberg.

Unless I’m mistaken it wasn’t Ossoff who was talking about how smart and good looking he is.

[MineralMan]

45. Look. I think it is far too early to

Start this stuff. Ossoft still has to win his midterm election. If he loses, he'll have zero chance in 2028. We need a Senator in GA more than we need an unlikely presidential candidate in 2028.

We need to regain control of Congress. We don't need distractions from that.

We lose if we do not stay focused. I do not want to lose.

[BannonsLiver]

47. I don't buy into the idea that what we say here matters that much in real life when it comes to impacting elections.

It’s great to have the forum, but there’s not much of a case to be made that people who like to discuss politics on a forum created for that purpose are going to derail the midterms by talking about 2028. And it’s a manufactured “crisis” anyway, given that 2026 mid term threads greatly out number 2028 threads.

[MineralMan]

52. OK

:shrug;

[BannonsLiver]

57. I'd probably stop there too.

[MineralMan]

61. Would you?

[MineralMan]

53. Well, hes not saying anything

about a run for President, is he? He's smart, apparently.

[BannonsLiver]

56. Neither is anyone else other than Newsom who has said he's considering it.

But like it or not people are still going to talk about who is running. You’re free to engage in those discussions, or not.

[MineralMan]

60. I'll decide as i please, thanks.

[BannonsLiver]

66. Pretty sure that's what I said.

[MineralMan]

72. See? We agree.

[MineralMan]

15. Maybe he could get reelected first.

I'd work on that.

[BannonsLiver]

18. He seems to be doing pretty well.

Last edited Mon Jun 15, 2026, 04:48 PM - Edit history (1)

The GOP Senate Committee has all but given up on picking up the seat. I know that because I chose to inform myself.

[MineralMan]

19. I hope he wins.

I don't vote in Georgia.

[maxsolomon]

68. Fun dayn moyl zu Got's oyem.

From your mouth to God's ear.

It's Georgia. I'll believe he's reelected when I see it.

[DFW]

91. Whereas I initially shared your pessimism about Jon's re-election

For over a year, I have become increasingly (cautiously) optimistic. So has he. For the first part of his term, he watched out for whose toes he might be stepping on. Mo more. Now he seeks out whose toes to target, and he has a very clear idea of whose toes he has in mind.

My “believe it when I see it” stance disappeared when he was elected to the Senate in the first place. Now, he is running as an incumbent. That’s no guarantee, especially for a Democrat in a Southern State, but it beats fighting for headlines as an unknown.

I don’t speak Yiddish, but when it is written out in the Roman alphabet and the words are all similar to German, I can figure out simple phrases to that one. A British Jewish friend uses “from your lips to God’s ears” a lot. Modern Germans just say, “Dein Wort in Gottes Ohr.” I find the Arabic “Inshallah” to be more economical, but that’s just my lazy nature, and don’t even bother asking me to write it in the original.

[senseandsensibility]

16. Nowhere in the article above did it say that being handsome is his

only qualification. If you don't think the others listed are convincing, fine. I also don't remember a time when Dems picked a candidate solely based on looks and lost.

[MineralMan]

21. It led with that, though.

Not a good start.

[kentuck]

17. He would be near the top of all the lists, in my opinion.

He states the facts very succinctly.

[MineralMan]

23. Candidate du jour....

[TheProle]

26. I have no issues with "candidates du jour" at this phase

Communities like DU can perform a valuable service of pre-vetting potential candidates before the party machinery, big donors and media start declaring who we should consider viable.

[msfiddlestix]

103. Why go out of your way to be such a killjoy? Why does it trouble you to witness optimistic indulgence for our future?

?

[democrank]

42. Perfect, kentuck.

Thanks for that reply.

I’ve listened to a few of Ossoff’s speeches and was impressed with his willingness to call a spade a spade. I thought he was refreshingly plain spoken which is a welcomed break from consultant-speak.

[ffr]

25. Maybe, sure. But I'm with Gavin Newsom. He's already got his gloves off and he knows how to mock

rePuticans using their own tactics against them.

[senseandsensibility]

27. We have a great roster to choose from

We're in a good position. I'm happy with the way those two (Newsom and Ossoff) fight back.

[moonscape]

59. I'm a Californian but of

the two am with Ossoff. He’s just so wicked smart, cogent, and real.

[MineralMan]

63. He also voted to enable ICE detentions

along with a few other Democratic Senators. He'll have to explain that.

Key Democrats Vote for Increasing Mandatory Detention of Immigrants – Mother Jones https://share.google/SoADGH9p8yDvOwWFs

[TVguyCards]

87. Big oof!

Thank you, I wasn't aware of that. Kiss of death if he decides to run.

[MineralMan]

95. Doesn't help him, for sure.

[NNadir]

28. I'd be interested in seeing him run, depending on how he does in his reelection campaign.

He has from what I've seen that "It guy" thing that defined President Obama, who I regard as the greatest President of my adult life.

[Raven123]

30. How about we get through November first

“Everyone” is hyperbole and sadly sounds like something I would expect to hear from Trump. The wire should do better

[sop]

36. Ossoff needs to tamp down all these '28 presidential rumblings and focus on getting re-elected in Georgia.

I think he'd be a great candidate from what I know about him and listening to him speak, but first he's got to win in Georgia if he wants to be taken seriously.

[Cha]

65. I read Sen Jon Ossoff actually said

he wasn't interested in running in 2028.

[DFW]

74. That's what I heard from him

But what does he know?

[Cha]

77. How very Cool! You actually

talked to Sen. Jon Ossoff!

I told you I liked him.. as others have said.. he has the fire, and is so interesting the way he articulates it!

[DFW]

79. I've known him for almost ten years.

He was at my “Marks and Johns” dinner a few years ago. We haven’t sat down for dinner in a year, but we keep in regular touch. I’ve been a supporter of his since his unsuccessful run for the House almost ten years ago. I was over the moon when he made it into the Senate.

[Cha]

83. Aww, good to know. I remember

When he lost the House seat.

And about 3 years later won his Senate bid against David Perdue. Good Times!

Mahalo, DFW!

[BannonsLiver]

97. Yes he needs to get the media to stop writing and talking about him.

[whathehell]

46. How about we not get oversensitive?

..We're just talking.

[Raven123]

82. The media's obsession over possible presidential candidates

…is only exceeded by ESPN’s speculation over who will win the next title in NBA, NFL, NCAA, MLB, which is always published within 48 hours of the juts played deciding title game. It’s absurd. There is no news in a commentary that EVERYONE wants xyz to do something. If the media were doing their job, they would be focusing on the very important upcoming election. That is my opinion.

[LuvLoogie]

31. Less the people who find his voting

for the Laken Riley Act as a betrayal of the due process rights of immigrants.

[MineralMan]

33. Agree.

[BannonsLiver]

98. Wouldn't affect my decision one bit.

He’s from the state where it happened and is up for re election. It’s not exactly earth shattering he would join 9 other Dems in similarly vulnerable positions in voting for it. Unlike a lot of people here, I’m guessing Ossoff actually places some value on actually winning elections, rather than performative losing that feels good but leaves us out of power.

[LuvLoogie]

102. But performative opposition to ICE

and Stephen Miller's racist fever dream is ok. As long as your votes let you keep performing.

Go team!

[JBTaurus83]

32. He and Beshear would be strong

Candidates. Perhaps even on the same ticket.

[senseandsensibility]

35. I think Beshear and he have similar strengths in that

they can win in red states. I like both of them but wonder about the "two white guy" thing. The Rs are shameless and would definitely try to paint that as hypocritical on our part or something. And the media would go with it.

[RazorbackExpat]

90. The media is going to diss the Democratic ticket no matter what

But so what? You get two popular Southern Democrats on the ticket and that could bring in a lot of red state votes.

[Fil1957]

34. Not to mention he is also a great speaker.

[mwmisses4289]

37. Sadly, he may not get elected. Why? He's Jewish.

And for a large, idiotic part of the electorate, that is a big deal.
I will wait until 2028 actually comes and there is a better idea of who the candidates will be, before I start putting my hat in the ring.

[whathehell]

48. True, but many also said that about Obama..

The fact that he and Raphael Warlock were able to get elected in Georgia says something, imo.

[BannonsLiver]

38. He'd be an outstanding candidate.

Very good orator, smart guy, good story. Good policy positions on most things I’ve seen. People will quibble over individual votes but single issue dead-enders don’t really matter that much at the end of the day.

[FascismIsDeath]

39. He definitely has the charisma and make no mistake, we are gonna need charisma.

I think our 2028 bench is looking better than any we've had since 2008, IMO. I won't know who I'm supporting until the primaries are in full swing and the likely winner will be decided before the Ohio primary, as it tends to go that way in typical primaries. But he is certainly on my list of "if you want to run, you should" candidates.

[Torchlight]

40. We've got a deep bench this cycle

I'm going to wait until midterms and take a read of the topography immediately afterwards before committing, even informally, to any one candidate. I'm excited to see the full stage of qualified, serious contenders. And whichever one I do eventually decide on, I'll champion their candidacy rather than attacking another's (the satisfaction of construction always outweighs the visceral destructive tendencies in me).

[kentuck]

44. No one would be worse than Trump.

They don't have the ego or the malevolent narcissism to do what he does. Most do not have the same disregard for the law or the Constitution. Trump is a one of a kind criminal.

[MadameButterfly]

49. i was saying just that last time I hear him

give a speech. Amazing how many boxes a viable candidate has to tick and he does it, while still being inspiring.

So let's get him in the Senate and also elect a Democratic governor of Georgia so we can afford to lose him there in 2 years.

[Akakoji]

50. An Ossoff/Bashear ticket would be amazing

As would an Ossoff/Warnock ticket. We have a lot of great candidates. I think the expiration dates on some of the always mentioned have expired however. Michelle recognizes something that Democrats are still hesitant to acknowledge. In any case we need to focus on the midterms.

[DFW]

75. The POTUS and VP can't be from the same state

It’s an antiquated law, but it is still in force. There will be no Ossoff/Warnock ticket.

[Midwestern Democrat]

92. They can but the electors of that state could not vote for both the president and VP and in a close election that could

throw the election of the Vice President to the US Senate if no Vice Presidential candidate receives at least 270 electoral votes.

[tishaLA]

51. His campaign posts great videos on YouTube

Virtually every day, they post a "short" that's an excerpt from a speech or senate committee work (Joe Neguse also has a great team posting shorts of him, usually from the House floor or torturing repubs in committee meetings&gt

[DFW]

76. Might I suggest a minor edit?

As a Senator, Jon doesn’t make speeches on the House floor.

[tishaLA]

89. What I posted is corect, actually

"Joe Neguse also has a great team posting shorts of him, usually from the House floor or torturing repubs in committee" is not a phrase that has Sen Ossoff as a referent.

[WarGamer]

58. I like him... not sure if he clicks the charisma button though.

And is he a populist warrior?

[mr715]

62. His debate against an empty podium was pretty good.

He couldn't have pulled that off with no charisma.

[DFW]

78. If it's any help

Jon seems to have found his footing as a public speaker. In a one-on-one, he solidly convinces because he IS sincere. I also think he has the highest IQ of any Senator, although I only know a very few of them, so take that for what it’s worth. If he knows you have an area of expertise, he asks all the right questions. Not only is he willing to acknowledge that he doesn’t know everything, he is willing to listen and learn (Mark Kelly is like that, too, in case you want to file that away). Jon IS a warrior. He is not a populist. Give that as much weight as you see fit.

[WarGamer]

100. IMHO... the Left is desperate for a progressive populist.

Not the Corporate business as usual variety.

Just MHO.

[DFW]

104. Whatever "the Left" is desperate for

IMHO the vast majority is not, and only a vast majority voting Democratic will be enough to toss Republican rule, at least for a cycle or two, into a deep freeze. I think that using the vague slur of “corporate” to describe our own people, especially when they are beholden to no such interests, is about as useful as Republicans yelling about “liberals,” which they are at a similar loss to accurately define.

Of all the prominent American politicians who describe themselves as progressive, only AOC seems (to me) to have both the youth and the perception of the political lay of the land to build a voter base sufficient to some day launch herself beyond the orbit of her current following. The third essential element, i.e. a willingness to so, is her decision alone, and she will have to balance being accused of failing the purity test with gaining more than enough followers to compensate for the possible loss of the puritains (small p). That is a burden that does not plague politicians like Jon Ossoff, Pete Buttigieg or Mark Kelly, although all three have their own hurdles to overcome if they want a place on the ticket. Jon is Jewish, a red flag to some on both the extreme right AND the extreme left. Pete Buttigieg is openly gay (need I say more?). Mark has a long career in the military, a no go to some who consider that a stain.

In the 2020 primaries, Joe Biden’s age wasn’t enough of a negative for Democratic voters—only Trump kept harping on that, and Democrats weren’t overly interested in what Trump wanted. Biden was the last man standing when the smoke cleared, and he rode that straight into the White House. If Democratic contenders for the nomination spend their time trying to tear down other Democrats, instead of telling the nation why their vision offers a better hope for the future, I believe that once again, there will once again be a “last man standing” who has found the vision and the rhetoric to inspire, and won’t attack his/her own flank instead of attacking Republicans. We need someone who can convincingly explain “I’m better” as opposed to “he’s worse.” We’ll also need behind-the-scenes people like David Simas, who was so essential to Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign (“we’ll tear our hair out so that you don’t have to” ).

[LuvLoogie]

64. He's a no for me due to his Laken Riley Act yes vote

I'm also curious to see how he'll vote on this legislation. A yes vote on this would not cause me to support his candidacy for the Democratic nominee for president, should he decide to run.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/ndaa-section-224-alarms-progressives-220505140.html?

The dispute comes as Congress takes up the broader $1.15 trillion defense bill. The House Armed Services Committee debated the measure during its June 4 markup, when California Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat, introduced an amendment to strip Section 224. The amendment failed by a voice vote and the bill advanced to the full House. Only Khanna and California Representative Sara Jacobs, also a Democrat, backed the measure.

The provision did not originate in committee. Its text is derived from the U.S.-Israel FUTURES Act, sponsored by Texas Representative Ronny Jackson and North Carolina Representative Don Davis, and by North Carolina Senator Ted Budd and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. That bill stalled, and many of its provisions reappeared in the NDAA.

[Sympthsical]

67. Would absolutely consider him

But he'd have a tough row to hoe in the primary for various reasons, some less shitty than others.

I think people are going to have to buckle in if he or Shapiro throw their hats in the ring. The party is going to have to reckon with some things.

[fujiyamasan]

69. One of the better names mentioned for 2028

Things are looking good for him for November. He’s been raising a lot of money. Polls show in a comfortable position. And the GOP doesn’t have any strong names…

Assuming he wins, I’m sure he’ll be high on many democrats’ lists.

[Cha]

70. I've liked Sen Jon Ossoff ever since

I first heard him speak. Not surprising that many others feel the same.

I did read that he is not interested in running for President in 2028. Apparently, he wants to be in the Senate again to serve out his 2nd term.

[DFW]

80. So far, anyway

That is exactly how he feels.

Of course, he has not consulted DU for the latest news on how he feels…..

[Cha]

85. How lucky are we to have a direct

line to Sen Joh Ossoff. That Senator is brilliant!

[DFW]

86. That's relative lol!

I’m not giving out his personal email or his private cell phone number.

On the other hand, if there is some issue that is of broad enough importance, and it’s one he doesn’t mind answering “on the record,” I can certainly pass it on. However:

He knows that Republican strategists monitor Democratic blogs, and they have their AI programs combing the internet for anything they can use against him, so keep that in mind if he is careful with what he allows to be on the record, and I respect ALL such wishes religiously. I certainly have no right to make something public that he will regret having told me. I am not on his re-election team, and I will avoid making posts that could be construed as coming from them.

[DFW]

93. The Marcs and Johns Dinner

[Cha]

94. Ohh, Thank you so much for

That really nice picture, DFW!

I see you, Sen Kelly and Gabby, too. Don't know the other people?

Dems are such a kind, brilliant bunch!

[DFW]

99. That is Jon Ossoff between my brother and me, and Hick and Robin on the right

Senator John Hickenlooper. (D-Colorado) and his wife. He is called “Hick” when the cameras are off.

[Exp]

71. Either Ossoff or Mark Kelly would be excellent! eom

[DFW]

84. If it is of any help or interest

I met up with Mark in Paris in March when he was on his way home from the Munich conference. Mark has heard the buzz about him being a presidential candidate. It wasn’t on his radar, but he isn’t deaf, either. He said that either way, there is no way he is going to make a decision to run in this year, period. Twenty years ago, a very much more visible Barack Obama didn’t announce until early in the year before the election. Mark is very much aware of that.

[Polybius]

73. Everyone?

Not me, so that's not "everyone" by definition.

[tavernier]

81. Most of the people I've talked to in my group of friends

are leaning toward Kelly.

[LudwigPastorius]

88. Why don't we see if he holds his Senate seat first?

[Buckeyeblue]

96. This is why we have a primary

[allegorical oracle]

101. Liked him the moment I saw him when he first ran. Nobody else seemed to think

much about him, but he put his head down and has developed into a solid, articulate politician.