The Democrat everyone suddenly wants to believe in

Jon Ossoff and the dream of a “unity candidate” in 2028.

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July 9, 2026 4:45pm EDT

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Matte tone:

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff is cruising so far in his re-election campaign and some Democrats are already thinking about drafting him for a presidential run. In particular, progressive commentators like Chris Hayes and Michelle Goldberg see him as a potential unifier: He won over prominent leftists by voting against Israeli arms sales when it was a riskier political move, while centrists are intrigued by his swing-state appeal and moderation on social issues. And his viral clips attacking Trump’s corruption scandals and the “Epstein class” seem to excite populists and Resistance voters alike.

But as Vox’s Zack Beauchamp writes, there’s a history of similar charismatic “unity candidates” struggling in presidential contests because they lack one core base of support. Would Ossoff suffer the same fate?

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—Benjy Sarlin, senior editor, politics, policy, and ideas