Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, whose mother was born in Sydney, has become a surprise frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, leading Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by less than one percentage point in a recent AtlasIntel poll, though he has publicly denied any plans to run for the White House.
Ossoff won a second Senate term in Georgia, a swing state, in the 2026 midterm elections. He has become a rising star in the party in recent months, due to his unusually direct language criticising President Donald Trump. The AtlasIntel poll marked a sharp shift from a year ago, when he did not appear in presidential contender forecasts.
At carefully produced rallies, the 39-year-old senator has delivered withering critiques of Trump, earning him the nickname “The First Extremely Online Senator”. In one video filmed at a campaign event with Senator Mark Kelly, Ossoff called Trump a “draft-dodging, crook president” and accused him of trying to imprison Kelly, a retired navy captain, for a social media video. Trump had previously suggested Kelly be imprisoned and hanged. Ossoff also said: “While the sailors on the Lincoln fight his [Iran] war, while he fruitlessly drains our munitions and oil reserves, the president sleeps through his meetings. He golfs and trades stocks … he doesn’t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie [Harp] on their apparently defenceless flying palace gifted by the amir of Qatar.” The White House responded with Trump comparing Ossoff’s appearance to that of comedy character Pee-wee Herman.
Ossoff has also mocked the president’s sons and son-in-law for their international business deals, called for an end to the Iran war and rolling back many of Trump’s tax cuts, and blasted the president’s tariffs. The Jewish senator has carefully navigated Middle East politics, saying he values Israel’s security and “the lives of innocent Palestinians”.
Despite his growing profile, Ossoff has denied any interest in a presidential bid. In an October debate, he said he had “zero interest” in running for office. When asked by a TMZ reporter what Americans could take from Australians, he said: “I think Vegemite is a little bit of an acquired taste but … there is a laid-back culture, I think, in Australia. We get a little bit wound-up sometimes over here.”
Ossoff’s mother, Heather Fenton, was born in Sydney and moved to Atlanta at 23. She co-founded New Power PAC, which works to increase the number of women in public office in Georgia. Ossoff previously held Australian citizenship but has renounced it, according to Nine newspapers’ reporting in 2021.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Ossoff’s lead in early primary polling and his swing-state seat make him a potent Democratic contender, potentially reshaping the 2028 race.
- His aggressive, online-focused attack model could set a new tone for Democratic messaging against Trump.
- His Australian heritage adds an international dimension, but also raises questions about dual-citizenship and political eligibility.
Background
Ossoff first gained national attention in 2017 when he ran a competitive special election for a Georgia House seat. He was elected to the Senate in 2020 and re-elected in the 2026 midterms. As a Jewish senator from a conservative state, he has positioned himself as a pragmatic progressive with strong defence credentials.
Key Perspectives
Senator Jon Ossoff: Says he has “zero interest” in running for president and has not announced any campaign.
White House: Trump has mocked Ossoff’s appearance, comparing him to Pee-wee Herman.
Democratic voters: According to the AtlasIntel poll, they narrowly prefer Ossoff over Ocasio-Cortez, reflecting shifting party dynamics.
What to Watch
- Whether Ossoff maintains his denial or changes course as 2028 approaches.
- How other potential Democratic candidates, such as AOC, respond and whether they enter the race.
- The impact of Trump’s second-term policies on Democratic primary dynamics.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedOssoff is described as half-Australian.Just In: “Meet the half-Australian young gun, known for getting under US President Donald Trump's skin.”
- SupportedOssoff has emerged as a surprise frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination.Just In: “But more and more, one name is rising to the top: Georgia senator Jon Ossoff.”
- SupportedAn AtlasIntel poll showed Ossoff leading Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by less than one percentage point in the 2028 Democratic primary contest.Just In: “The answers showed Senator Ossoff holding a tight lead of less than one percentage point over representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.”
- SupportedOssoff has denied plans to run for president in 2028.Just In: “Still, Senator Ossoff has denied planning a bid for the Oval Office in recent public appearances, saying in an October debate that he had "zero interest" in running for office.”
- SupportedOssoff's mother was born in Sydney.Just In: “His mother, Heather Fenton, was born in Sydney.”
- SupportedOssoff won a second Senate term in Georgia in the 2026 midterm elections.Just In: “Jon Ossoff won a second US Senate term at the recent midterm elections.”
- SupportedOssoff called Trump a “draft-dodging, crook president.”Just In: “I don't think anything illustrates the times more aptly than that the draft-dodging, crook president, who has plunged our nation recklessly into a war he knows not how to end or to win”
- SupportedOssoff said the president sleeps through meetings while sailors on the Lincoln fight his war and he drains munitions and oil reserves.Just In: “"While the sailors on the Lincoln fight his [Iran] war, while he fruitlessly drains our munitions and oil reserves, the president sleeps through his meetings," Senator Ossoff said.”
- SupportedTrump had previously suggested that Kelly be imprisoned and hanged over a social media video.Just In: “Mr Trump had previously suggested Senator Kelly be imprisoned and hanged over a social media video saying troops were not required to carry out illegal commands.”
- SupportedOssoff earned the nickname “The First Extremely Online Senator.”Just In: “earning him the moniker of "The First Extremely Online Senator" .”
- SupportedOssoff previously held Australian citizenship and renounced it, according to Nine newspapers' reporting in 2021.Just In: “Senator Ossoff previously held Australian citizenship, but has renounced it, according to reporting by Nine newspapers in 2021 .”
- SupportedAsked by TMZ what Americans could take from Australians, Ossoff said Vegemite was an acquired taste and described Australia as having a laid-back culture.Just In: “"I think Vegemite is a little bit of an acquired taste but … there is a laid-back culture, I think, in Australia. We get a little bit wound-up sometimes over here."”