Sen. Jon Ossoff is centering his 2026 reelection pitch on attacks against former President Donald Trump as he campaigns across Georgia, the state he represents.
Ossoff has repeatedly criticized Trump at rallies and in stump speeches this year, turning the former president into a central target of his messaging, according to reporting by the AP and The Washington Post.
The strategy reflects Ossoff’s calculation that casting the race as a referendum on Trump can energize Democratic voters even as Republicans try to flip the seat, reporters say.
Ossoff is the only Democratic senator facing reelection in a state that Donald Trump won in 2024, and his campaign has emphasized that vulnerability to nationalize the contest, according to CBS News and NPR.
His campaign reported large fundraising hauls earlier in the year; CBS News reported Ossoff entered the 2026 race with about $25 million on hand, a figure his team has used to fund advertising and travel around Georgia.
The White House and Trump allies have pushed back: The Hill reported officials criticized Ossoff’s remarks and the administration publicly responded to his attacks in August.
Political reporters say Ossoff’s approach has drawn national attention and helped him raise money and mobilize volunteers, while also prompting direct responses from Trump supporters and allied officials, according to NPR and The Washington Post.
Sources
- AP — reported that Ossoff has made attacks on Trump a centerpiece of his reelection campaign.
- The Washington Post — described Ossoff’s aggressive campaign strategy and national attention it drew.
- CBS News — reported Ossoff entered the race with about $25 million on hand.
- The Hill — covered the White House pushback to Ossoff’s attacks in August.
- NPR — provided context on Ossoff’s vulnerability as the only Democratic senator up for reelection in a Trump-won state.
