Thomas Jonathan Ossoff, born on February 16, 1987, is an American politician who has been serving as Georgia's senior United States senator since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Ossoff's background includes a successful career as a documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist.
Raised in Atlanta by a Jewish father and an Australian mother, Ossoff first gained national attention during the 2017 special election for Georgia's 6th congressional district, a contest that highlighted the shifting political landscape in a traditionally Republican area. This election was notably the most expensive House race in U.S. history, though Ossoff ultimately lost to Karen Handel, the former Georgia Secretary of State.
In 2020, Ossoff secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate election, facing off against incumbent Republican David Perdue. The race extended into a runoff on January 5, 2021, after neither candidate achieved the required majority in the general election. Ossoff emerged victorious in this pivotal runoff, joining fellow Democrat Raphael Warnock, who also won his Senate seat that day. Their victories were crucial for the Democratic Party, leading to a 50-50 split in the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris providing the tie-breaking vote.
Ossoff's election marked several milestones: he became the youngest senator since Don Nickles in 1980, the first Jewish senator from Georgia, and the first senator born in the 1980s, as well as the first millennial to hold a seat in the U.S. Senate. He and Warnock are the first Democrats to represent Georgia in the Senate since Zell Miller in 2005.
