The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Celebrities stump for Ga. hopeful
Democrat among 18 candidates seeking Price’s House seat.
The crowded race to succeed Tom Price in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District has become something of a Hollywood affair, with actors Alyssa Milano and Christopher Gorham becoming the latest celebrities to get involved on Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff ’s behalf.
A documentary filmmaker who was until recently unknown to even veteran Georgia strategists, Ossoff is one of 18 hopefuls seeking to fill the seat vacated when Price became U.S. health and human services secretary. The political newcomer already had attracted some high-profile backing, with the left-leaning Daily Kos website raising more than $1 million for his campaign and actresses Debra Messing and Kristen Bell pledging their support.
On Monday afternoon, Milano and Gorham, who are in town filming a new television show, took to both social media and the road, tweeting photos of themselves on the stump and offering to ferry district residents to the polls. Early voting began Monday ahead of the April 18 contest.
“Vote for Ossoff today to #FlipThe6th!” Milano tweeted, a reference to the district’s long history as a reliably Republican one. No Democrat has represented the district since Newt Gingrich won the seat in 1978. “Chris Gorham and I are ready to canvas (sic). We may end up at your door.”
By Monday evening the two had posted photos of themselves with voters, efforts that were met with both praise and criticism. Gorham’s tweet offering to give voters a lift had been liked nearly 5,000 times within two hours, but it also drew some prominent rebukes.
“Nothing says ‘I care about local issues’ than flying in a Hollywood celebrity,” tweeted National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Matt Gorman.
“Breaking news — looks like John (sic) Ossoff ’s campaign now employs Hollywood elitists to be in charge of his voter outreach program!” Maddie Anderson, the NRCC’s south/central regional press secretary said in an email. Her subject line noted that neither Ossoff nor his famous supporters actually live in the district: “Two celebrities who don’t live in GA-06 helps (sic) candidate who doesn’t either.”
Some of Ossoff ’s Hollywood support is happening in Hollywood itself; actress Rose McGowan and producer Shannon Fitzgerald plan a fundraiser on Thursday.
In an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last month, Ossoff was quick to volunteer that he lives just south of the district’s line so his girlfriend of 12 years, an Emory University medical student, can walk to work. Members of Congress don’t have to live in their districts, but Ossoff said he will move to the 6th after she graduates.