Democrats hopeful $8.3m can spark resistance vote in Georgia special election
Source: The Guardian
Democrats hopeful $8.3m can spark resistance vote in Georgia special election
Jon Ossoff leads jungle primary for congressional seat by healthy
margin in test of Trumps poor approval ratings but run-off looms
if he doesnt top 50% of vote
Adam Gabbatt
Saturday 15 April 2017 12.00 BST
Democrats running for Georgias sixth congressional district can typically hope to raise $10,000 for their campaign. But ahead of a special election on Tuesday, first-time candidate Jon Ossoff has already raised $8.3m.
Ossoffs bid for the seat previously held by Tom Price, who left to become Donald Trumps secretary of health and human services, offers the first opportunity to see if Trumps poor job approval ratings nationally can be translated into local victories for Democrats.
A Republican has represented the sixth district since 1979, and a victory for the 30-year-old Ossoff could represent the first tangible public rejection of Trumps presidency.
So far, it is looking promising. Ossoff, an investigative film-maker, is polling at 43% in the district, with his nearest challenger, Republican Karen Handel, at 15%.
But while Ossoffs surge is being interpreted by some as a reaction to the president, the candidate himself is keen to stress that he is not running against Trump.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/15/georgia-special-election-jon-ossoff-sixth-district-congress