Seeking to press his fundraising advantage, Democrat Jon Ossoff said Monday he’ll host a series of statewide town halls to “answer questions from all Georgians, whether or not they now support" his U.S. Senate campaign.
Ossoff and his top rivals have trained their fire on U.S. Sen. David Perdue rather than each other, and the "1 Georgia" initiative continues that trend: Ossoff said the Republican has "failed to hold a single public town hall during five years in office."
The investigative journalist has emerged as the most formidable Democratic fundraiser in the race for Perdue's seat, thanks partly to his donor list and name recognition from his unsuccessful 2017 bid for Georgia's 6th District.
Ossoff has amassed roughly $2 million since entering the race in October, surpassing his two main Democratic opponents: business executive Sarah Riggs Amico, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2018; and former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson.
Still, the race remains unsettled, and there’s been little polling and scant advertising yet as the campaigns prepare for the May 19 vote.
Amico's campaign hinges on winning over labor unions and building on the strategy that Stacey Abrams employed to nearly capture a statewide win in 2018. Tomlinson promises to compete with Republicans in rural areas, and has landed some big-name endorsements.
Neither of those candidates has yet disclosed their latest fundraising figures, though recent developments point to lackluster numbers. Amico resigned her position this at her family's car-hauling business to focus on her bid. Several of Tomlinson's top deputies recently left the campaign, and she's retooled her message.
A fourth contender, Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry, dropped out of the race for Perdue's seat on Sunday. He told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he's competing instead for an open DeKalb County commission seat.
Ossoff's events, open to the public, kick off on Feb. 10 in Athens and include visits to Columbus on Feb. 24 and Savannah on March 14. Other events will be added to the calendar.
More recent AJC Senate coverage:
Clarkston’s ‘millennial mayor’ drops out of Georgia Senate race
Two months ahead of primary, Georgia Democrats worry about division
Ahead of likely Senate run, Warnock must decide whether to stay in pulpit
DeKalb’s top prosecutor will not run for US Senate in Georgia
AJC Poll: Georgia’s new senator is playing catch-up with voters
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