Jon Ossoff, the next Democratic nominee for U.S. president?

Todd DeMarco, Contributing Writer

As 2028 approaches, uncertainty still looms as to who the Democratic nominee for United States president will be. Many names have been thrown out there: Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio–Cortez, Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris among others. However, a dark horse is emerging: Jon Ossoff.

In the 2026 midterm elections, America not only made it clear that they were tired of President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) agenda, but that they also wanted younger, in–touch representation. Abdul El-Sayed is 42, James Talarico (37), Annie Andrews (45), Ossoff (39), Chris Pappas (46), Josh Turek (47) and Peggy Flanagan (47). 

Despite being the second–youngest among these names at 39, Ossoff is the most experienced. Ossoff was first elected in 2020, persevering through an arduous election that ended in a runoff, winning narrowly by just under 55,000 votes. Ossoff and his colleague, Raphael Warnock, were the first Democrats to be elected to the U.S. Senate since 2000.

In 2026, Ossoff won re–election against Trump–endorsed Mike Collins in a commanding victory, defeating Collins by more than 750,000 votes. During his first six years in office, Ossoff clearly proved to Georgians that they were right to elect a Democrat to the Senate after nearly two decades of Republican dominance, but what has he done to prove himself? 

In his first six years, Ossoff has accomplished a lot. He has provided direct help to thousands of Georgians with passports, Social Security, veterans' benefits, Medicare and visa issues. He also introduced the Bipartisan Federal Prison Oversight Act, which has significantly increased oversight and transparency for federal prisons around the country, and helped billions in federal disaster relief for Georgia after Hurricane Helene. 

Ossoff has also been one of the most vocal critics of the Trump administration, asking the tough questions to Trump’s officials when they are brought before the Senate in a cool, calm and collected manner. While doing all of this, Ossoff has stayed true to his pledge to refuse all donations from corporate Political Action Committees (PACs). 

In a time when Americans have seen politicians accept seemingly endless funds from corporations, which in turn can essentially control how politicians vote and what they advocate for, it is refreshing to see a young, fit and courageous leader. One who will not only stand up to the largely unpopular and economically detrimental administration, but also to the big money that has had a stranglehold over our politics. Being able to efficiently pass bipartisan legislation, sticking up for our veterans, speaking out against the current administration’s corrupt practices and not accepting donations from corporate PACs are all the traits of a leader who does not automatically conform to party lines, one who isn’t afraid to think for himself and take initiative. That is what America needs. 

So, could Ossoff be on the ballot for president in 2028? Would he even run? Many Americans and journalists seem to think so. They think Ossoff would be a strong candidate, with writers from The New York Times, BBC, The Atlantic, and many others acknowledging the strong possibility of an Ossoff candidacy. 

As of Nov. 4, Americans trading on Polymarket see Ossoff as the most likely Democratic nominee in 2028 at 26%, ahead of Newsom’s 16% and Ocasio–Cortez’s 14%. Ossoff himself, however, has been very vocal about not wanting to run for president in 2028. This shouldn't be taken too seriously, though, as former President Barack Obama said the same thing two years before he was elected president. 

Obama and Ossoff share many similarities. For one, they speak the same. Ossoff has adopted the same speech patterns and cadences as the 44th president. If you listen to one of Ossoff’s speeches and then listen to an Obama speech, the similarity is obvious. Ossoff has also adopted the same type of camera framing, using the same upward, three–quarters profile shot as Obama. Both Obama and Ossoff appeal, or in Obama’s case appealed, as young, strong and vocal leaders. 

The most important difference–making similarity between Obama and Ossoff is their appeal to voters closer to the middle, those who lean left, are in the center or lean right. According to data from USAFacts.org, there are 42.5 million registered voters who are independent, and they account for about 32.1% of all registered voters in states that report party affiliation. With Ocasio–Cortez appearing too far-left for many Americans, America is likely not ready to elect an openly gay man to the presidency; with Buttigieg and Newsom’s many failures in California, Ossoff seems to be the most viable and moderate. 

Why did I not mention Kamala Harris? Well, Democrats haven’t put someone who lost a presidential race back up for the same candidacy four years later since Adlai Stevenson in the 1950s, making it highly unlikely that they would do so after 70 years. 

What sets Ossoff apart from these other candidates is his middle–ground appeal, which will undoubtedly be a key factor in Democrats taking back the White House in 2028, and his overwhelming victory in a traditionally conservative Georgia in 2026 proves it.

For these reasons, I believe Jon Ossoff will not only secure the Democratic nomination for president, but will also be elected the 48th President of the United States.