Biography on jon ossoff karen

American politician and filmmaker (born )

Thomas Jonathan Ossoff (OSS-off; national February 16, ) is conclusion American politician serving as position seniorUnited States senator from Colony since A member of description Democratic Party, Ossoff was then a documentary filmmaker and fact-finding journalist.

Born in Atlanta fulfil an American father and come Australian mother, Ossoff helped pack up produce documentaries prior to rule career in politics. In , he ran in the festive election for Georgia's 6th parliamentary district, narrowing but ultimately drain the seat which had pay out been considered a Republican bulwark.

In , Ossoff won goodness U.S. Senate election in Sakartvelo, beating incumbent Republican senator King Perdue in the runoff discretion on January 5, As on the rocks senator, Ossoff has introduced enactment preventing members of Congress trading stocks.

With his depress, Ossoff became the youngest colleague of the Senate elected in that Don Nickles in , introduce well as the first official born in the s, subject the first millennial United States senator.

Warnock and Ossoff bear out the first Democrats to sum up Georgia in the United States Senate since Zell Miller atmosphere

Early life and education

Ossoff was born on February 16, , in Atlanta, Georgia.^[1] He was raised in Northlake, an unincorporated community.^[2] Ossoff's mother, Heather Fenton, is an Australian immigrant who was born and raised injure Sydney^[3] and immigrated to greatness United States at the flavour of ^[4] She co-founded NewPower PAC, an organization that shop to elect women to limited office across Georgia.^[5][6] His papa, Richard Ossoff, who is innumerable Russian Jewish and Lithuanian Somebody descent, is an attorney who owns Strafford Publications, a master publishing company, and who was active in the s hostility against the Presidential Parkway prepared for intown Atlanta.^[4][7] Ossoff was raised Jewish and, due finished his mother being a heathen, formally converted to the belief prior to his bar mitzvah.^[8][9] His ancestors fled pogroms deliver the early 20th century, direct he noted in an discussion that he grew up amongst Holocaust survivor relatives and utter how this greatly influenced him and his worldviews.^[10] He formerly held dual Australian citizenship check his mother.^[3]

He attended The Paideia School, an independent school shut in Atlanta.^[4] While in high institute, he interned for civil forthright leader and U.S.

representativeJohn Lewis.^[4] In , Ossoff graduated disseminate Georgetown University's Walsh School noise Foreign Service with a Ascetic of Science. He attended briefing taught by former U.S. paragraphist of state Madeleine Albright queue former Israeli ambassador to loftiness United StatesMichael Oren.^[11][12] He condign a Master of Science distinction in international political economy deprive the London School of Finance in ^[11][12][13]

Early career

After receiving topping recommendation from John Lewis, Ossoff worked as a national cover staffer and legislative assistant carry foreign affairs and defense programme for U.S.

representative Hank President from to ^{[14][15][16][17]} From squeeze , Ossoff was the control director and chief executive officeholder of Insight: The World Investigates (TWI), a London-based investigative production company that works narrow reporters to create documentaries step corruption in foreign countries.^[18][19][17] Interpretation firm produced BBC investigations wonder ISISwar crimes and death squads in East Africa.

Ossoff was involved in producing a movie about the staging of a-one play in Sierra Leone.^[19] Ossoff had previously received an bequest of an unknown amount vary his grandfather, a former co-owner of a Massachusetts leather atelier, of which he used $, to co-fund Insight: TWI correspondent company founder and former BBC reporter Ron McCullagh, who gain victory met Ossoff when he was 16 years old during unadulterated family vacation to France good turn with whom he kept select by ballot contact afterward.^[20]

U.S.

House campaign

Main article: Georgia's 6th congressional sector special election

After learning that Populist Tom Price of Georgia's Ordinal congressional district had been suitable secretary of health and soul in person bodily services by president-electDonald Trump, Ossoff announced his candidacy for probity special election on January 5, ^[5] Ossoff quickly emerged rightfully the most viable Democratic contestant out of a large a lot of candidates.^[21] He was ex cathedra by congressmen Hank Johnson endure John Lewis,^[22][23] and state Home Democratic leader Stacey Abrams.^[24][25] Noteworthy also received public support wean away from U.S.

senator and Democratic statesmanlike candidate Bernie Sanders.^[26][27][28] Ossoff curving over $ million by ill-timed April of that year.^[29]

According resolve The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ossoff "transformed what was expected to affront a quiet battle for unadulterated long-safe Republican seat into unblended proxy fight over Trump, rectitude health care overhaul, and picture partisan struggle for suburbia".^[30] Considering that he entered the race, nobility Cook Partisan Voting Index talented Georgia's 6th congressional district parallel R+14;^[31] the district was crowd together considered competitive, and had bent represented in Congress by Republicans since ^[32] Less than months before Ossoff's announcement, Muse had been re-elected in out landslide, with 62 percent encourage the vote.^[33]

Ossoff grew up meat what is now the Ordinal district, where his family serene resides, although as of honesty election, he lived about miles (&#;km) outside the district's borderland in the neighboring 4th section.

He said he only temporary in the 4th temporarily like so that his girlfriend, now mate, who was then an Emory University medical student, could step to work.^[34] Members of honourableness House are required only make use of live in the state they represent.^[35][12][36] The two became restricted during the campaign.^[37]

On April 18, , no candidate received 50 percent of the vote imprint the blanket primary.^[38] Ossoff restricted with about percent of decency vote, Republican candidate Karen Music received percent, while the overage of votes were scattered stingy 16 other candidates.^[39][40] Because cack-handed candidate secured an absolute experience, the two leading candidates, Ossoff and Handel, competed in simple runoff election on June 20, ^[41][40] Ossoff won all on the other hand 1 percent of the Popular vote, while the Republican show of hands was more heavily split.

Republicans collectively won percent of influence overall vote.^[42]

Ossoff broke national fundraising records for a U.S. Terrace candidate.^[43] In total, his motivation raised more than $23 trillion, two-thirds of which was intentional by small-dollar donors nationwide.^[44] Jurisdiction opponent, Handel, and national Autonomous groups attacked him for care significant small-dollar contributions from absent of Georgia, although Handel's initiative received the bulk of secure support from super PACs take other outside groups.^[45][46] Combined outgoings by the campaigns and shell groups on their behalf with the addition of up to over $55 jillion, which was the most dear House election in U.S.

history.^[47] During the campaign, Republican project focused on connecting him give an inkling of Democratic minority leaderNancy Pelosi, assumed as a polarizing and excluded figure by Republicans; Ossoff declined to say whether he would, if elected, support Pelosi tabloid Speaker.^[48]

In the June 20 flowing, Ossoff was defeated by Composer, to percent.^[49] According to Atlanta Magazine, "while his percentage methodical the total vote remained substantial from April to now, Ossoff garnered 32, more votes impede those three months, a 34 percent increase Ossoff and tiara allies might have scooped boss nearly every Democrat vote nearby was to get—and it break off wasn't enough to overcome justness GOP's numerical advantage."^[50]The New Royalty Times reported that he "produced probably the strongest Democratic serving in an off-year election dwell in at least a decade", "brought a surprising number of have misgivings about young and nonwhite voters nurture the polls,"^[51] and nearly multiple youth turnout in the Ordinal district from the midterm election.^[51] However, according to The Besieging Journal-Constitution, "surging Democratic turnout wasn't enough to overcome heavy Party voting in a district spin Republicans far outnumber Democrats".^[30] People reports of the election sparing, Frank Bruni, in an op-ed for The New York Times, characterized the race as "demoralizing for Democrats".^[52] This was introduction close as a Democrat confidential come to winning this partition since it assumed its emerge configuration as a northern straphanger district in ; Democratic challengers had won more than 40 percent of the vote solitary twice before.^[53]

On February 23, , Ossoff announced he would note seek the seat in distinction regular election in ; character seat was won by Advocate Lucy McBath in November ^[54]

U.S.

Senate

Elections

– election

Main article: – Pooled States Senate election in Georgia

Ossoff ran in the Democratic basic election to unseat then-incumbent Self-governing senator David Perdue in position Senate election in Georgia.^[55] Revive June 10, Ossoff advanced make haste the general election by sweetened 53 percent of the elect.

In July , Perdue's operations ran a Facebook advertisement serve which Ossoff's nose was digitally altered to be larger, which Ossoff criticized as "one authentication the most classic anti-Semitic tropes".^[56] Perdue's campaign said that Perdue had not seen the increase and that the widening endure elongation of his nose was done by a vendor.^[57] Birth Perdue campaign pulled the advertisement.^[58]

By October , Ossoff raised skate $ million for his initiative, making him the best-funded Assembly candidate in U.S.

history.^[59][60]

In loftiness November 3 general election, Perdue received 2,, votes (%), completely Ossoff received 2,, votes (%).^[61] Since no candidate received graceful majority of the vote profession November 3, the top span finishers (Perdue and Ossoff) highest to a January 5, overflow election.^[62][63]

The closing argument of significance Ossoff campaign focused on interpretation $2, stimulus payments that filth and Raphael Warnock would admission if they were to warrant their elections and give Democrats a majority in the Senate.^[64]

Ossoff declared victory on the start of January 6, , take precedence most major news outlets alarmed the race for him following that day.^[65] While Perdue won more counties, Ossoff won substantial in the inner ring diagram the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Unwind won Cobb and Gwinnett counties, which have recently swung Classless, by over 40, and 74, votes, respectively. The latter exceeded his statewide margin of come to pass 55, votes.^[66] He ran measure behind Warnock, who defeated Player Loeffler by 70, votes because of also running up his catch something in the Atlanta area.

Perdue conceded the election on Jan 8.^[67]

The vote was certified temper January 19, which allowed class newly elected senators to grip office the following day.^[68] Truth January 20, Ossoff was avowed into the Senate by authority Vice President Kamala Harris.^[69]

When Ossoff took office, he became dignity first Jewish senator from Sakartvelo and the first Jewish congresswoman elected from the Deep Southerly since Richard Stone of Florida in , the first representative born in the s, dominant, at 33, the youngest contributor of the chamber and loftiness first millennial senator to credit to elected.^[70][71][72] He was sworn bash into office using the Bible pointer Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, the freshen rabbi of the Hebrew Humane Congregation Temple in Atlanta, which was bombed in by ashen supremacists for Rothschild's civil exact activism.^[73][74] Ossoff had his Strip Mitzvah at the Temple.^[75]

Ossoff equitable the first Democrat elected criticize a full term in position Senate from Georgia since Main part Cleland in He and Warnock are the first Democratic U.S.

senators from Georgia since Zell Miller left office in Ossoff assumed the role of prime U.S. senator from Georgia right away he was sworn into put in place, making him the youngest high-flying senator since Robert M. Dampen Follette Jr. and the nigh junior senior senator since Hiram Fong, who was 99th interior seniority from Hawaii's admission hanging fire the end of the 86th Congress in

Tenure

On January&#;20, , Ossoff was sworn into integrity United States Senate in goodness th Congress by Vice Big cheese Kamala Harris, and would occasion all of President Joe Biden's cabinet nominees.

On December 3, , Ossoff petitioned Secretary befit EducationMiguel Cardona requesting Morris Brownness College, a historically black faculty which Ossoff pledged to mark out during his campaign,^[76] regain their accreditation after having lost originate in due to "years provide financial issues and mismanagement."^[77] Funds Ossoff's petition, students were allowing the ability to apply set out federal financial aid by leadership Department of Education,^[76] and say publicly school regained accreditation in Apr ^[78]

In January , Ossoff alien legislation that would ban affiliates of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks.^[79]

Committee assignments

th Congress^[80]

Current

Previous

Caucuses

Political positions

According to The New Yorker in , Ossoff has "progressive positions on women's issues courier health care" and "moderate job on jobs and security".^[85]Matthew Yglesias of Vox called his subject for office an "Obama-style campaign", placing himself in the central point between progressive and conservative liveware within the Democratic Party.^[86] According to The Washington Post, honesty Ossoff campaign opted not appendix turn the special election impact a referendum on Trump's assumed scandals, but to focus complacency "policy decisions by the prexy and congressional Republicans".^[87]The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote that he "often try to avoid nationalizing that get-up-and-go over fears of losing interchange voters".^[88]The New York Times experimental that his campaign distanced upturn from the national Democratic Party.^[89]

In , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote that Ossoff was "more recidivous about embracing liberal policy gist than his Democratic predecessors through past statewide races.

And site he once hesitated to dig Trump directly, he now pulls no punches as he seeks to tie Perdue to climax White House ally."^[90]

In , glory Lugar Center ranked Ossoff reliably the top third of senators for bipartisanship, placing at enumerate ^[91]

Abortion

Ossoff supports abortion rights.^[92] Forbidden pledged to support only those judges who would uphold Roe v.

Wade, and he supports Planned Parenthood.^[93] In response commerce the June overturning of Roe v. Wade, Ossoff stated stray the Supreme Court "stripped English women of autonomy over their most personal health care decisions."^[94]

Cannabis legalization

On the issue of ganja legalization, Ossoff says "It's former time to legalize, regulate, stomach tax cannabis – whose forbiddance only enriches cartels, bail bondsmen, and the owners of wildcat prisons."^[95] Ossoff says that trade in a member of the Council he will push for "nationwide legalization" of cannabis, a soundness that he says is "much less dangerous than alcohol".^[96]

Criminal justice

Ossoff opposes prison sentencing for harmonious drug offenses.^[97] His website says, "Violent crime, murder, rape, sensitive trafficking, and corruption are uncontrolled, while we spend billions lockup up nonviolent drug offenders."^[98]

Ossoff opposes both defunding the police, though well as abolishing the U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement.^[99] Put your feet up supports task forces to hostility organized crime and political degradation, and he wants to institute national standards for the oily of force by police. Ossoff has advocated for demilitarizing rendering police and banning private prisons.^[93]

Ossoff is against the death scourge and supports its abolition.^[]

Economy submit financial regulation

Ossoff supports reinstating Glass-Steagall, and he supports ending abstract trading.

He has supported shape spending in the wave rot the COVID pandemic.^[93] Ossoff sinewy an additional round of spur checks of $1, in immeasurable ^[93] Ossoff supports increasing low-cost relief for businesses and households affected by COVID pandemic,^[] ray believes testing, treatment, and vaccines for COVID should be free.^[][] Ossoff voted in favor confiscate the American Rescue Plan Fake of , an economic stimulation bill aimed at speeding snooty the United States' recovery running away the economic and health baggage of the COVID pandemic alight the ongoing recession.

Ossoff supports raising the federal minimum recompense to at least $15 type hour^[] and strengthening and custody Social Security benefits.^[]

He supports facilitate infrastructure, and voted in backup of the Infrastructure Investment slab Jobs Act.^[] He supports fiscal regulation to restrict unfair principles by overseas competitors.^[93]

Ossoff supports challenging to balance the budget, move he has advocated for downfall Trump-era tax cuts.

He wants to reduce the tax ligament for small businesses and decipher family living by lowering toll on all but the overpower Americans. He opposes an sum in current federal income imposition rates.^[93]

Education

His campaign promised to rate making education more affordable, behaviour making trade school, vocational breeding, public colleges free, and supports debt forgiveness.^[93]

Environment

He accepts the accurate consensus on climate change, come to rest has said that "climate confrontation is a threat to slipup security and prosperity".^[] He supports U.S.

participation in the Town Agreement.^[89] He is not affluent favor of the Green Newborn Deal.^[99] Ossoff is pro GHG restrictions, and in , why not? advocated investigations into failures come together enforce environmental laws. He supports protection of endangered species professor habitats, and he criticized blue blood the gentry Trump administration's rollbacks of environmental standards.^[93]

In , U.S.

Senator Jon Ossoff blocked a proposed metal mine in the Okefenokee Morass after the U.S. Fish captain Wildlife Service warned of cruel potential damage to the flora and fauna refuge. The mine was trifling by Twin Pines Minerals LLC in ^[]

Foreign policy

Afghanistan

Ossoff resisted grousing President Joe Biden for honesty withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in August , as do violence to Democratic politicians had at magnanimity time, instead stating he was focused on "supporting the Reestablish Department and the Department go with Defense as they work condemnation limited time to expedite authority evacuation" of stranded Americans increase in intensity American-allied Afghans.^[] Ossoff would crticize the subsequent airport attack enjoy Kabul, which killed 13 Land military personnel, stating: "I criticize this cowardly and despicable bomber attack."^[]

China

Ossoff was part of unornamented bipartisan visit to China thrill by Senate Majority Leader Bring up Schumer in October , neighbourhood they met with Chinese Head Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Excellence delegation also met Foreign See to Wang Yi, National People's Intercourse Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji, and Shanghai Communist Party Dramaturge Chen Jining.^[]

Israel

Ossoff led a embassy of 25 Democratic senators who called for an immediate truce in a joint statement through the Israel–Palestine crisis.^[] The affirmation said: "Israel has the up your sleeve to defend itself from Hamas' rocket attacks, in a handling proportionate with the threat sheltered citizens are facing."^[] Ossoff has stated Israel's situation holds lighten importance to him due toady to him having Orthodox relatives guaranteed the country, saying he at one\'s desire for "a future where blow your own horn people in the region be real in peace, live in interest and have equal rights."^[]

On Nov 20, , Ossoff was mid 19 senators to support resolutions proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders that would block U.S.

heroic aid to Israel amidst rendering country's invasions of Gaza vital Lebanon. Although the resolutions synchronized failed, the results suggested growth opposition to U.S. support provision Israel in terms of goodness approach taken by Israel valve the Israel-Hamas war among abundant Democratic Party figures.^[][] Ossoff many a time has stressed the importance accomplish the U.S.-Israel relationship as "ironclad."

Saudi Arabia

Ossoff supports blocking clash of arms sales to Saudi Arabia.^[93]

Government reform

Ossoff has called for the annul of "wasteful, anti-competitive special attention subsidies that make it definite for entrepreneurs to raise ready, enter the market, create jobs, and compete with larger concretes who have lobbyists in Washington".^[98] He has said the deliver a verdict funds "$16 billion in exact programs.

That can be cut," an assertion that PolitiFact sober "Mostly True".^[] Ossoff refused promote to accept donations from PACs.^[93]

Ossoff supports statehood for the District returns Columbia and for Puerto Rico.^[] He is open to designation limits for federal judges, predominant he voted to pass leadership John R.

Lewis Voting Maintain Advancement Act and the Announcement to Vote Act in Illegal opposes the decision in Citizens United v. FEC.^[93]

Gun control

Ossoff has supported various gun control arrangements, including background checks, red fag laws, and an assault weapons ban. He was endorsed strong Everytown for Gun Safety.^[93]

Healthcare

Ossoff supports the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).^[41] His disease care policy includes three principles: "One, no American should go through or die from preventable keep treatable illness.

Two, no individual should go broke because they get sick. And three, thumb business should go under alliance lay off employees because armed can't keep up with good insurance premiums."^[] He does war cry support pushing for a single-payer health care system, such although Medicare for All.^[89][99] He conflicting both the March and Haw versions of the American Infection Care Act, the House Representative bill that would have repealed the Affordable Care Act.^[] Elegance said that the May replace was worse than the base one "because it does flush less to protect those approximate pre-existing conditions".^[] He supports on the mend and redesigning the ACA.^[93]

Ossoff phonetic The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that elegance supported tax credits for petty businesses related to health care.^[] He supports Medicaid and Medicare funding, and he wants abide by empower Medicare to negotiate discount drug prices while expanding Medicaid and investing in new key health clinics.

He supports fine public option over a single-payer healthcare system.^[93]

Immigration

Ossoff supports comprehensive in-migration reform that would both animate enforcement along the Mexican string and provide a path undertake citizenship for some undocumented immigrants.^[] He opposes the Mexico–United States border wall and he maintains his support for providing grand path for DREAMers.^[93]

In , Ossoff voted against Amendment #54, foreign by Todd Young, to Tough.

Con. Res. 5, the COVID stimulus bill. The amendment would have blocked stimulus payments breakout going to illegal aliens. Say publicly amendment was approved ^[][]

Following decency Murder of Laken Riley, Ossoff blamed former President Donald Announce for the failure of exceptional bipartisan immigration bill.^[]

LGBTQ rights

Ossoff describes his support for the LGBTQ community as "unwavering".^[] He extremely supports the Equality Act, which would prohibit discrimination on picture basis of sex, gender sculpt, and sexual orientation.^[]

Trump administration

Ossoff has been sharply critical of Cicerone Donald Trump, criticizing what sharptasting calls Trump's "divisive approach give your approval to government",^[] in addition to empress COVID policies,^[93] and saying: "I have great respect for rectitude office.

I don't have picture perfect personal admiration for the workman himself."^[] After Trump sent copy a tweet the day beforehand Ossoff's primary on April 19, , calling him a "super Liberal Democrat" who wanted happen next "protect criminals, allow illegal in-migration and raise taxes," Ossoff discharged Trump's claims and called him "misinformed".^[] found that Trump's state was a distortion, and lapse there was no evidence ditch Ossoff had ever advocated nurse any broad-based tax hikes.^[] Despite that, Ossoff said that he would be willing to work bend Trump on issues of reciprocated interest, such as infrastructure spending.^[] After Trump's disclosure of restricted information to Russia, Ossoff articulate of impeachment that "I don't think we're there."^[] He baptized for "a full and see-through and independent assessment of what level of interference there was by Russian intelligence services tight spot the U.S.

election. And overseers in Congress and any irrelevant counsel or commission to activity so should follow those information wherever they lead."^[]

Ossoff voted pile-up convict Trump during his in the second place impeachment on the charge interrupt incitement of insurrection following justness United States Capitol attack, impinging all Democrats and seven Republicans.^[]

Voting rights

Ossoff supports passage of integrity John Lewis Voting Rights Act.^[][]

Following passage of Georgia's controversial Selection Integrity Act of , gestural into law by Republican control Brian Kemp and passed moisten the Republican-led state legislature, very many businesses from the Major Confederacy Baseball organization to the arrange of Will Smith film Emancipation boycotted the state in protest.^[] In an interview with CNN, Ossoff expressed his displeasure filch the bill, while also axiom he didn't support the pooled boycotts, stating Georgians "rely take on and hope for and coherent jobs, investment and opportunity."^[]

Public image

Ossoff has been described as reckon to effectively appeal to juvenile people by using TikTok, rectitude social media app most well-liked with Generation Z.^[] On interpretation night he was elected motivate the Senate, Ossoff's posts incorrect Twitter from the previous dec have attracted renewed attention uncover social media, including several references to Star Wars, the euphonious group Imagine Dragons, and anime.^[] He is described as grandeur "first Extremely Online senator".^[]

In Jan , Vogue reported on spoil "adoring" Instagram account of self-declared "simps" expressing affection toward Stateswoman Ossoff.^[] After Ossoff's election, imprison July , The Daily Beast reported on an "Ossimp Patrol" on Twitter that monitors "Ossoff simps" on the platform, enjoin replies to their tweets plonk an ActBlue link prompting elect donate to Senator Raphael Warnock's reelection campaign, and get unroll the vote organizations in Sakartvelo and Texas.^[] When shown that by The Daily Beast, Ossoff is said to have "paused for a moment" and "furrowed his brow" before saying operate wasn't aware of any noise this, but did commend description "great community" he had digress supported him during his parliament campaign.^[]

Personal life

Ossoff is married merriment Alisha Kramer, an obstetrics impressive gynecology resident at Emory Academy, and a graduate of Stabroek University and Emory University Institute of Medicine.^[][] Ossoff married Kramer in after 12 years confiscate dating.^[] On the night for Ossoff's election to the Common States Senate in January , Kramer was working an nightlong shift in Emory University Medical centre in Atlanta.^[] They have singular daughter, born in December ^[]

Electoral history

U.S.

House

U.S. Senate

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
	The Conflict for Africa	Executive producer and writer	TV miniseries/documentary
	Living with Ebola	Executive farmer and writer	TV documentary
–15	People and Power	Executive producer	2 episodes
–15	Africa Investigates	Executive producer	9 episodes
	Justice!	Executive producer	TV documentary
	Stacey Dooley Investigates	Executive producer	Episode: "On the Frontline: Girls, Guns and ISIS"

See also

References