Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff fell below the 50 percent marker in Tuesday's special election, setting up a runoff on June 20 for Georgia's sixth congressional district.
Ossoff, 30, who raised over $8 million in the first fundraising quarter this year, had the wind at his back heading into Tuesday, but wasn't able to win outright against six Republican challengers. If the results hold up, he will face Republican former Secretary of State Karen Handel in a head-to-head contest.
In the final days, President Trump became increasingly active in the race. The White House released a robocall from the president Monday night. On Monday and Tuesday, Trump tweeted seven times, many of which targeted Ossoff specifically.
After hitting him on a myriad of issues, Trump also pointed to Ossoff's confirmation Tuesday morning that he does not live in the sixth district. Instead, he lives about a mile and a half away while his girlfriend attends medical school and plans to move back into the district when she completes her schooling.
The seat has long been held by Republicans, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Sen. Johnny Isakson and former Rep. Tom Price, who took over as Health and Human Services secretary in February. While Price won re-election in November by 23 points, Trump only topped former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by 1.5 points, giving Democrats hope in Tuesday's election.
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05.02.2024