Ossoff Leads Democratic Field: Bookmakers Rank Georgia Senator First
Following a major midterm loss for the president, Jon Ossoff is now the top favorite for the 2028 Democratic nomination, outpacing rivals like Newsom and Vance.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
Jon Ossoff, the Georgia senator who defeated incumbent David Perdue in a 2021 runoff, is now the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. Betting houses William Hill and Star Sports list Ossoff as the top favorite, placing him ahead of prominent party members and the current vice president.
This shift in momentum follows a recent midterm election where President Donald Trump’s party suffered a historic defeat. With roughly two years until the next presidential vote, Democrats are searching for a candidate who can capitalize on their current strength. Ossoff has emerged as a front-runner in that search, gaining traction after a performance that widened his electoral margin in Georgia to nearly 20 percentage points.
The senator first gained national attention in 2020 when he challenged Perdue for one of Georgia’s two Senate seats. Perdue won the initial vote but failed to secure a majority, triggering a second round two months later. Ossoff won that runoff with 50.6 percent of the vote compared to Perdue’s 49.4 percent. At 33 years old, he became the youngest sitting U.S. senator at the time.
Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, who won the other Georgia seat on the same day, were the first Democratic senators from the state since 2000. Their victories contributed to a wave of optimism for the party following the 2020 election. Ossoff has since built a reputation as a skilled speaker and a popular figure in his home state, a region traditionally solid for Republicans.
His profile rose further in August when he delivered a speech referencing President Trump’s special assistant, Natalie Harp. Ossoff said Trump wanted to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie, a comment that sparked days of media coverage and anger from conservative supporters. He did not use Harp’s surname, but the remark became a viral moment for the senator.
Despite his rising odds, Ossoff has recently stated he has no desire to run for president. In a debate last month, he told the audience, “I have zero interest in running for president. I’m not running for president. I’m running for re-election to the Senate.” However, observers note that Barack Obama made similar promises after his own Senate election in 2004, shortly before winning the presidency in 2008.
Ossoff currently leads two other major Democratic contenders in the betting markets: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a key figure in the party’s progressive wing, and Gavin Newsom, the governor of California. The same bookmakers give Ossoff equal or better odds than JD Vance, the Republican frontrunner and current vice president. Vance’s close association with President Trump may impact his standing as the Republican party adjusts to its recent electoral setbacks.
