Jon Ossoff

Meet Jon Ossoff. At 39, he’s the nation’s youngest U.S. senator. Elected from the swing state of Georgia, he’s smart, focused and strong on the attack. And if some Democrats have their way, he could be their party’s nominee for president in 2028.

Democrats are tired of Donald Trump setting the agenda. Many worry their current crop of presidential candidates falls short of what they need: a new generation leader who can win, govern and rebuild the party.

Growing excitement surrounds Ossoff’s prospects — even though he’s largely unknown to most voters and currently denies interest in a White House bid. That may change after November, when Ossoff is favored to win reelection, but his victory is not guaranteed; federal elections in Georgia are often perilously close.

Ossoff grew up in Atlanta and is married to Alisha Kramer, an OB-GYN at Emory University. They have two daughters. His mother is an Australian immigrant, and his father is an attorney-turned-publisher.

In high school, Ossoff interned for civil rights icon U.S. Rep. John Lewis. A graduate of Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, he earned a master’s degree from the London School of Economics. Ossoff has worked as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill and as CEO of a television production company that created documentaries about foreign corruption.

Ossoff narrowly lost a special election for Congress in 2017. Four years later, he defeated Republican Sen. David Perdue, becoming the first millennial in the Senate and the first Jewish senator from Georgia.

Knowing how Democratic strategists view presidential prospects tells us why a new face like Ossoff has appeal.

Many expect Kamala Harris, 61, to fade once the race starts, arguing her current strength rests on name recognition more than loyalty. Gavin Newsom, 58, dazzles on television and online, but some fear he’s too slick for Sheboygan.

They think Pete Buttigieg, 44, ran an impressive presidential campaign in 2020, but were less impressed with his performance as a Biden cabinet member. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 36, is as hip and modern as a Democrat can be — but insiders wonder whether a self-described Democratic socialist can win a national election.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, 53, earns praise for intelligence, competence and calm. But skeptics fear he’s too moderate, too pro-Israel and too cautious for the progressive base. Arizona’s Mark Kelly, 62, looks good on paper — astronaut, veteran, swing-state senator — yet may lack the spark Democrats crave.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, 61, is popular with pundits and politicians, but do Democrats really want a billionaire leading their ticket as they run on closing the wealth gap? Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, 48, has an aura of moderation and electability, but strategists question whether he could ever capture the party’s progressive base, which will likely have veto power over the next nominee.

And then there’s Rahm Emanuel, 66: tough, brilliant, able. He’s been a mayor, House member, ambassador and presidential chief of staff. Yet to many, he’s too much the insider, lacking appeal among rank-and-file voters.

Where does that leave Ossoff? Young, telegenic and battle-tested in a swing state. A crisp communicator with strong support among Georgia’s Black voters and suburban women. His attacks on Donald Trump and JD Vance land hard — sharp, straightforward and rooted in facts. His online video clips have put him on the map.

Not everybody will agree with Ossoff on every issue. He’s criticized the Iran war, voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment, supports abortion rights and wants to ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks. He voted with Joe Biden 97% of the time. He’s opposed the Green New Deal, defunding police, abolishing ICE and single-payer health care.

While he’s committed to “the security of Israel,” and acknowledges the “ironclad” U.S.-Israel relationship, Ossoff doesn’t favor unconditional American support.

His youth could hurt as well as help, though he’s older than AOC and only slightly younger than Vance. As a national candidate, Ossoff is untested. He may be too far left for centrists, and not far enough left for Democratic socialists. His position on Israel will be closely watched by pro- and anti-Israel Democrats.