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 Trump’s poor approval ratings – but run-off looms
if he doesn’t top 50% of vote

Adam Gabbatt
Saturday 15 April 2017 12.00 BST

Democrats running for Georgia’s 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.

Ossoff’s bid for the seat previously held by Tom Price, who left to become Donald Trump’s secretary of health and human services, offers the first opportunity to see if Trump’s 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 Trump’s 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 Ossoff’s 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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