History of Jon Ossoff in Timeline
Jon Ossoff is an American politician currently serving as a U.S. Senator for Georgia since 2021. As a member of the Democratic Party, he holds the senior seat for his state. Prior to his political career, Ossoff worked as a documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist. His election to the Senate marked a significant shift in Georgia's political landscape, contributing to the Democratic Party gaining control of the Senate. He is known for his youth and focus on issues relevant to younger generations, such as climate change and economic opportunity.
1958: Temple Bombing
Jon Ossoff was sworn into office using the Bible of Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, the late rabbi of the Hebrew Benevolent Congregation Temple in Atlanta, which was bombed in 1958 by white supremacists.
1961: Most Junior Senior Senator Since
Jon Ossoff assumed the role of senior U.S. senator from Georgia once he was sworn into office, making him the most junior senior senator since Hiram Fong, who was 99th in seniority from Hawaii's admission until the end of the 86th Congress in 1961.
1974: First Jewish Senator Elected Since
When Jon Ossoff took office, he became the first Jewish senator elected from the Deep South since Richard Stone of Florida in 1974.
1978: Republican Congressional Seat Since
Georgia's 6th congressional district had been represented in Congress by Republicans since 1978.
1980: Youngest Member of Senate Elected Since
Jon Ossoff is the youngest member of the Senate elected since Don Nickles in 1980.
February 16, 1987: Jon Ossoff Born
On February 16, 1987, Thomas Jonathan Ossoff was born. He is now a U.S. Senator for Georgia.
1992: Northern Suburban District
This was as close as a Democrat had come to winning this district since it assumed its current configuration as a northern suburban district in 1992.
1996: First Democrat Elected Since
Jon Ossoff is the first Democrat elected to a full term in the Senate from Georgia since Max Cleland in 1996.
2002: Morris Brown College lost accreditation
Morris Brown College lost its accreditation in 2002 due to "years of financial issues and mismanagement."
2005: First Democratic US Senators Since
Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the first Democratic U.S. senators from Georgia since Zell Miller left office in 2005.
2005: First Democrats to Represent Georgia in US Senate Since
Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the first Democrats to represent Georgia in the United States Senate since Zell Miller in 2005.
2007: Worked for U.S. Representative Hank Johnson
From 2007 to 2012, Jon Ossoff worked as a national security staffer and legislative assistant for foreign affairs and defense policy for U.S. representative Hank Johnson.
2009: Graduated from Georgetown University
In 2009, Jon Ossoff graduated from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service with a Bachelor of Science.
2012: End of Hank Johnson staffer role
In 2012, Jon Ossoff ended his role as a national security staffer and legislative assistant for foreign affairs and defense policy for U.S. representative Hank Johnson.
2013: Managing Director and CEO of Insight: TWI
From 2013 to 2021, Jon Ossoff was the managing director and chief executive officer of Insight: The World Investigates (TWI).
2013: Earned Master of Science Degree
In 2013, Jon Ossoff earned a Master of Science degree in international political economy from the London School of Economics.
2014: Increased Youth Turnout
Jon Ossoff nearly doubled youth turnout in the 6th district from the 2014 midterm election.
January 5, 2017: Announced Candidacy for Special Election
On January 5, 2017, Jon Ossoff announced his candidacy for the special election after Tom Price was appointed secretary of health and human services.
March 2017: Opposition to American Health Care Act
In March 2017, Jon Ossoff opposed the American Health Care Act, the House Republican bill aimed at repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
April 18, 2017: Led in Blanket Primary
On April 18, 2017, Jon Ossoff led with approximately 48.1 percent of the vote in the blanket primary, but did not secure an absolute majority.
April 19, 2017: Response to Donald Trump's Criticism
On April 19, 2017, after Donald Trump criticized Jon Ossoff on Twitter the day before Ossoff's primary, calling him a "super Liberal Democrat", Ossoff dismissed Trump's claims as misinformed.
May 2017: Opposition to American Health Care Act
In May 2017, Jon Ossoff opposed the May 2017 version of the American Health Care Act, stating it was worse than the earlier version regarding protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
June 20, 2017: Competed in Runoff Election
On June 20, 2017, Jon Ossoff competed in a runoff election against Karen Handel after not securing an absolute majority in the blanket primary.
2017: Progressive positions
According to The New Yorker in 2017, Ossoff has "progressive positions on women's issues and health care" and "moderate stances on jobs and security".
2017: Advocated investigations into failures to enforce environmental laws
In 2017, Jon Ossoff advocated investigations into failures to enforce environmental laws.
2017: Marriage to Alisha Kramer
In 2017, Jon Ossoff married Alisha Kramer, an obstetrics and gynecology resident at Emory University, after 12 years of dating.
2017: Ran in Special Election
In 2017, Jon Ossoff ran in the special election for Georgia's 6th congressional district, ultimately losing. The seat had long been considered a Republican stronghold.
February 23, 2018: Announced Would Not Seek Seat
On February 23, 2018, Jon Ossoff announced he would not seek the seat in the regular election in 2018.
November 2018: Seat was won by Democrat
In November 2018, the seat was won by Democrat Lucy McBath.
2018: Proposed Titanium Mine
The proposed titanium mine, which Jon Ossoff blocked in 2022, was proposed by Twin Pines Minerals LLC in 2018.
July 2020: Facebook Ad Controversy
In July 2020, Perdue's campaign ran a Facebook advertisement in which Ossoff's nose was digitally altered to be larger, which Ossoff criticized as "one of the most classic anti-Semitic tropes".
October 2020: Raised $100 Million
By October 2020, Jon Ossoff had raised over $100 million for his campaign, making him the best-funded Senate candidate in U.S. history.
2020: Ossoff's senate campaign
In 2020, During Ossoff's senate campaign he had a "great community" that supported him.
2020: Won Senate Election
In 2020, Jon Ossoff won the U.S. Senate election in Georgia, defeating incumbent Republican senator David Perdue in a runoff election.
2020: Embracing liberal policy ideas
In 2020, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote that Ossoff was "more unapologetic about embracing liberal policy ideas than his Democratic predecessors during past statewide races. And where he once hesitated to hit Trump directly, he now pulls no punches as he seeks to tie Perdue to his White House ally."
2020: Supported Additional Stimulus Checks
In late 2020, Jon Ossoff supported an additional round of stimulus checks of $1,200.
January 5, 2021: Runoff Election
On January 5, 2021, since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the November 3 general election, the top two finishers (Perdue and Ossoff) advanced to a runoff election.
January 6, 2021: Ossoff Declared Victory
On the morning of January 6, 2021, Jon Ossoff declared victory, and major news outlets called the race for him later that day.
January 2021: Emergence of "Ossimp" Fandom
In January 2021, Vogue reported on an "adoring" Instagram account of self-declared "simps" expressing affection toward Senator Ossoff.
January 2021: Alisha Kramer Works Overnight Shift on Election Night
On the night of Jon Ossoff's election to the United States Senate in January 2021, his wife, Alisha Kramer, was working an overnight shift at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
January 20, 2021: Sworn into US Senate
On January 20, 2021, Jon Ossoff was sworn into the United States Senate in the 117th Congress by Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside newly-elected fellow Senator Raphael Warnock and former California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
July 2021: Daily Beast Reports on "Ossimp Patrol"
In July 2021, The Daily Beast reported on an "Ossimp Patrol" on Twitter that monitors "Ossoff simps" on the platform, and replies to their tweets with an ActBlue link prompting to donate to Senator Raphael Warnock's 2022 reelection campaign, and get out the vote organizations in Georgia and Texas.
August 2021: Response to Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal
In August 2021, Jon Ossoff resisted criticizing President Joe Biden's withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, focusing on supporting the evacuation efforts. He later condemned the Kabul airport attack that killed American military personnel.
December 3, 2021: Petitioned for Morris Brown College Accreditation
On December 3, 2021, Jon Ossoff petitioned Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona requesting Morris Brown College regain their accreditation.
December 2021: Birth of Daughter
In December 2021, Jon Ossoff and his wife, Alisha Kramer, welcomed their first daughter.
2021: Became US Senator
In 2021, Jon Ossoff became the senior United States Senator from Georgia.
2021: End of Insight: TWI CEO role
In 2021, Jon Ossoff ended his role as managing director and chief executive officer of Insight: The World Investigates (TWI).
2021: Call for Ceasefire in Israel-Palestine Crisis
In 2021, Jon Ossoff led 25 Democratic senators in calling for an immediate ceasefire during the Israel-Palestine crisis, emphasizing Israel's right to defend itself proportionately. Ossoff has stated his personal connection to Israel, expressing a desire for peace and equal rights in the region.
2021: Vote Against Amendment on Stimulus Payments
In 2021, Jon Ossoff voted against Amendment #54, introduced by Todd Young, to the 2021 COVID-19 stimulus bill (S. Con. Res. 5). This amendment aimed to block stimulus payments from going to illegal aliens.
2021: Voted in Favor of American Rescue Plan Act
In 2021, Jon Ossoff voted in favor of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, an economic stimulus bill aimed at speeding up the United States' recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession.
2021: Vote to Convict Trump in Second Impeachment
In 2021, Jon Ossoff voted to convict Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial, charging him with incitement of insurrection following the 2021 United States Capitol attack.
2021: Response to Georgia's Election Integrity Act
In 2021, following the passage of Georgia's controversial Election Integrity Act, Jon Ossoff expressed displeasure with the bill but did not support corporate boycotts of the state, citing the importance of jobs and investment for Georgians.
January 2022: Introduced Legislation to Ban Stock Trading
In January 2022, Jon Ossoff introduced legislation that would ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks.
April 2022: Morris Brown College regained accreditation
Following Ossoff's petition, Morris Brown College regained accreditation in April 2022.
June 2022: Roe v. Wade Overturning
In response to the June 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, Ossoff stated that the Supreme Court "stripped American women of autonomy over their most personal health care decisions."
2022: Voting Rights Legislation Support
In 2022, Jon Ossoff voted to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. He also supports statehood for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and opposes the Citizens United v. FEC decision.
2022: Blocked Proposed Titanium Mine
In 2022, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff blocked a proposed titanium mine in the Okefenokee Swamp after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warned of severe potential damage to the wildlife refuge.
2022: Warnock Reelection campaign
In 2022, the "Ossimp Patrol" on Twitter, monitored "Ossoff simps" on the platform, and replied to their tweets with an ActBlue link prompting to donate to Senator Raphael Warnock's 2022 reelection campaign, and get out the vote organizations in Georgia and Texas.
October 2023: Bipartisan Visit to China
In October 2023, Jon Ossoff participated in a bipartisan visit to China, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. During the visit, they met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking officials in Beijing.
2023: Bipartisanship Ranking
In 2023, the Lugar Center ranked Ossoff in the top third of senators for bipartisanship, placing at number 33.
November 20, 2024: Support for Resolutions on Military Aid to Israel
On November 20, 2024, Jon Ossoff joined 18 other senators in supporting Senator Bernie Sanders' resolutions to block U.S. military aid to Israel amid the Gaza and Lebanon invasions. While the resolutions failed, they highlighted growing opposition to U.S. support for Israel's approach in the Israel-Hamas war within the Democratic Party. Ossoff has consistently emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
2025: Vote for the Laken Riley Act
In 2025, Jon Ossoff joined 11 other Democrats and all Republicans to vote for the final passage of the Laken Riley Act in the Senate.
