Democrat’s campaign in Georgia awash in cash
House race seen as early indicator of how Trump’s tenure is faring
WASHINGTON Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff raised $15 million in just two months for a House special election viewed by many Democrats as a referendum on President Trump and his policies.
Ossoff now has collected more than $23 million in the hard-fought battle for Georgia’s sixth district, having previously raised $8.3 million during the first phase of the campaign. The race, which once saw 18 candidates vying for the open seat, has shattered fundraising records as Democrats race to fill Ossoff’s coffers and outside groups spend heavily to shape the contest.
Republican Karen Handel, Ossoff’s opponent in the June 20 runoff, had not released her fundraising numbers as of early Thursday afternoon. Handel is Georgia’s former secretary of State; Ossoff, a 30-year-old political neophyte, is a documentary filmmaker and former congressional staffer.
The suburban Atlanta district has sent Republicans to Congress for nearly four decades, but Trump won the district by less than two points last year, raising Democrats’ hopes of flipping the seat. National Republican groups have poured millions into advertising to boost Handel, and Vice President Pence is slated to stump for Handel on Friday.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price gave up the seat to join Trump’s Cabinet.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution first reported Ossoff’s fundraising totals.