Ossoff makes Augusta campaign stop as he seeks reelection
By Steve Schwartz | Staff writer
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) held a “Rally for the Republic” at the Augusta Marriott Convention Center on April 18.
The Marriott’s Olmstead Hall was expertly transformed into an elaborate patriotic audiovisual production by Ossoff’s team.
The production crew, in between messages on their headset radios, funneled about 500 people into bleachers and filled the floor around a small stage with a podium lit to capture the message and the potential to broadcast or deliver it to the internet. The energetic crowd waved signs and cheered while Ossoff, who took his seat in the Senate in 2021, moved into the spotlight and behind the podium.
The Atlanta native started by amping up the crowd and asking if the audience was ready to work, and just a little bit mad. Then he asked everyone to turn to their neighbor and say, “I am not sitting this one out.”
After honoring veterans, service members and spouses, Ossoff strung together the faults of Vice President JD Vance, President Donald Trump and MAGA, highlighting the Pope spat, the Iran war (of choice) and really leaning into economic jabs.
“Now, we were told MAGA was for the working class,” Ossify said. “Do you remember that? But this is a government of, by and for the ultra rich. They are the elites they pretend to hate. That’s why they gutted Medicaid and let health insurance premiums double for more than 20 million Americans to fund another tax cut for the rich.”
The senator continued lambasting the current administration on tax cuts paid for by cutting healthcare, economic policies that have led to plant closings and lost jobs, and then he called them out as the “elites they pretend to hate.”
The crowd responded with groans and boos.
“We were promised a Golden Age,” Ossoff said. “Instead, the economy’s lost 75,000 manufacturing jobs just since Trump launched his big illegal tariffs. Hiring’s at its lowest rate since 2020.”
Ossoff stated that Trump’s request for $200 billion in emergency funding to support the war in Iran could fund nationwide pre-kindergarten for 10 years. The Georgia senator noted that the war had resulted in 13 Americans killed and more injured. He also said the war had damage the United States’ reputation around the world.
Ossoff said that “people are desperate for change and new ideas” to turn to the positive. His message continued as he transitioned from us versus them and the underdog against the bully to right versus wrong.
Then he orchestrated a mass text, asking everyone to take out their phones and send the text “join” to 51015.
Concluding by addressing the group as Georgians, Ossify focused on the importance of Black history that “they”—meaning the current administration in Washington, D.C.—want to erase.
Osoff left the audience with a message of prosperity, equal justice for all, better health and no kings. That’s when the music came up along with more cheering and the senator left the stage.
Ossoff is running unopposed in the Democratic primary that will take place on May 19. Early voting has already begun in Georgia. On the Republican side, the candidates include Mike Collins, Congressman Buddy Carter, former football coach Derek Dooley, pastor and retired brigadier general in the U.S. Army reserve Jonathan McColumn and real estate developer John Coyne.
Early voting has already begun in Richmond County. According to the Georgia secretary of state’s website, there are four sites for early voting in the county: Henry Brigham Community Center, Linda W. Beazley Room in the Municipal Building, Robert Howard Community Center at Diamond Lakes and the Warren Road Recreation Center.
In order to vote, you must have one of six valid photo IDs. These include: (1) a valid Georgia driver's license; (2) any valid state or federal government issued photo ID; (3) valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of the state; (4) valid U.S. passport; (5) valid U.S. military photo ID; or (6) valid tribal photo ID. You can also vote by absentee ballot.
For more information on sites and times for voting in Richmond County, visit the following:
Early voting ends May 15 at 6 p.m.
Contact Steve Schwartz at stscwartz@augusta.edu.
Sen. Jon Ossoff speaks to a crowd of supporters at the Marriott Convention Center. Ossoff is unopposed in the May 19 Democratic Primary. At the top of the page, the crowd at the Marriott awaits Ossoff’s appearance. (photos by Steve Schwarz/the Bell Ringer)
