US midterms, John Ossoff re-elected in Georgia: Democrats defend key seat

Jon Ossoff wins re-election in Georgia and allows the Democrats to retain a key seat in the match for control of the US Senate. The Democratic senator defeated Republican Mike Collins, a House congressman supported by President Donald Trump, on Tuesday. The result, according to media projections, represents an important success for the Democratic Party in one of the most contested states in the electoral competition. “Americans have rejected Trump's corruption and incompetence,” he said immediately after his victory was confirmed. “Thank you Georgia, back to work tomorrow,” he added. Ossoff then denounced that "while the rich and those with strong political connections feast on inside information and favors, forgotten American families must deal with the systematic contempt of corporations and the indifference of institutions."

The youngest senator on Capitol Hill

At 39, Ossoff is the youngest senator on Capitol Hill and a rising star of the Democratic Party, a potential candidate for the presidential nomination in 2028. Born and raised in Georgia of which he later became a representative, of Jewish religion (he swore on the Torah on Capitol Hill) he is married to the gynecologist Alisha Kramer, an activist for reproductive rights, with whom he had two little girls, Eva in 2021 and Lila in 2025. Former journalist investigative, Ossoff has made the fight against corruption and government transparency his strong points and the issues on which he has most often attacked Donald Trump in his rallies.

As a very young man he worked with John Lewis, a historic exponent of the civil rights movement, and later as a parliamentary collaborator on national security and foreign policy issues. Before entering the Senate he directed an investigative documentary production company, dealing with corruption and human rights violations. His first major electoral experience dates back to 2017, when he unsuccessfully attempted to win a seat in the Chamber. Four years later came the turning point: in the January 2021 runoff he defeated Republican Senator David Perdue, contributing, together with the victory of Democrat Raphael Warnock, to handing control of the Senate to the party. Since then Ossoff has built his political profile on issues such as the fight against corruption, control of the activities of the federal government, healthcare and institutional transparency. He supported bans on stock trading by members of Congress and conducted investigations into conditions in federal prisons.

In-depth analysis

Why these Midterms are so important (looking to 2028)

The victory against Collins, a candidate supported by Trump

Ossoff's victory takes on particular significance in light of the results of the 2024 presidential elections, when Trump won Georgia with an advantage of two percentage points. The senator's reconfirmation demonstrates the Democrats' ability to defend a seat in a state that is decisive for the national political balance. Ossoff, who as mentioned is considered by many observers as a possible Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential elections, was able to count on fundraising significantly higher than that of his opponent: 126 million dollars more than Collins. The latter benefited from 18 million dollars in external financing, after facing a hard-fought competition within the Republican Party, divided into three candidates and subsequently a run-off. Trump had chosen to support Collins in the nomination race, preferring him to Derek Dooley, a former college football coach supported by outgoing Republican governor Brian Kemp.