Jon Ossoff Insists He Has ‘Zero Interest in Running for President in 2028’

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) insisted that he has “zero interest” in running for president in 2028 during an interview Monday night with MS NOW’s Jen Psaki.

Ossoff has served in the U.S. Senate since winning a runoff election, along with his colleague Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), on Jan. 5, 2021 — one day before the infamous attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.

The Republican nominee is Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who is currently embroiled in a scandal regarding white nationalist posts by his son-in-law. Collins has consistently trailed Ossoff in the polls and multiple election prognosticators have issued increasingly rosy predictions for the Democrat. Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics shifted Georgia’s Senate race from “Leans Democratic” to “Likely Democratic” last month; Nate Silver also rates the Peach State as “Likely D.”

Ossoff has also been one of the most prolific fundraisers for this election cycle, putting his campaign war chest far ahead of Collins, who had to battle through a contested GOP primary and runoff.

Psaki, guest hosting for Rachel Maddow, chatted with Ossoff about a variety of topics Monday evening, including the senator’s recent comments about Trump and other major Democratic candidates across the country. Near the end of the interview, she brought up a recent comment Ossoff’s colleague, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), made to a Politico reporter in response to a question about a potential “Ossoff-Kelly ticket” for president in 2028.

Kelly’s response, Psaki mentioned, was “hey, why’d you put it in that order?”

“So I guess I know you’re focused on your current Senate race — of course you are,” said Psaki. “I’d pose you the same question. How do you feel about a Kelly-Ossoff ticket in 2028?”

Ossoff replied:

Jen, let me reiterate. I have zero interest in running for president in 2028, and frankly, zero interest in the 2028 fantasy football right now. And I would note that Senator Kelly is going to be here in Georgia tomorrow campaigning alongside me, because he also recognizes that these midterms are the whole ballgame.

So with all due respect — and I appreciate and respect and understand why there’s interest and punditry in a presidential election several years away. I don’t know that we have a free and fair election in 2028, unless we restore checks and balances in these 2026 midterm elections.

This needs to be all of our highest priority and our focus. Get involved. Pitch in money. Sign up to knock doors. Sign up to make phone calls. If you’re feeling angst and outrage at what’s happening to our country, take action.

Because here in Georgia, early voting opens in eight weeks. Before we know it, we’re going to be looking at the results coming in on election night. Let’s leave it all on the field, have no regrets, and win a decisive victory this fall.

“No question, we need to hold on to the seat in Georgia — the Democrats do, in order to get — take control of the Senate,” Psaki responded before thanking Ossoff for coming on the show.

Watch the clip above via MS NOW.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!