Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia introduced early Monday that he pulled in a jaw-dropping $11 million within the first quarter of 2025, which his crew says is the most important ever Q1 haul for an incumbent senator throughout an off 12 months.
“I’m grateful to the hundreds of thousands of record-shattering supporters who have already joined what will be the biggest and most relentless turnout effort in Georgia history,” Ossoff mentioned in an announcement.
Ossoff’s marketing campaign says the $11 million got here from a median donation of simply $32, with contributions rolling in from 156 of Georgia’s 159 counties. Almost 260,000 particular person donors chipped in, together with 155,000 first-timers.
That’s a severe flex for somebody who doesn’t even have an opponent but.
The announcement dropped simply days after the Senate GOP’s high outdoors political operation launched a seven-figure advert blitz in opposition to Ossoff—utilizing drained, transphobic speaking factors in a bid to show voters in opposition to him.
“Man-to-man defense isn’t woke enough of Ossoff. He’s for they/them,” the advert, which aired throughout a few of the weekend’s largest sporting occasions, sneered.
However as Republicans double down on their bigotry, Ossoff is gearing up for a battle, with the $11 million haul doubtless simply the opening salvo. For context, the 2022 Senate race in Georgia—the place Democrat Raphael Warnock narrowly defeated Republican Herschel Walker—grew to become the most costly Senate contest of the cycle.
Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia
What’s working to Ossoff’s benefit is his confirmed capability to rake in huge quantities of money throughout aggressive election years. In 2020, Ossoff raised greater than $21 million in a single quarter in his race to unseat Republican Sen. David Perdue—setting a fundraising file for Senate elections within the state.
To this point, no main GOP challengers have stepped as much as problem Ossoff. Whereas just a few Republicans have made noise about working, most appear to be maintaining their powder dry till Gov. Brian Kemp decides whether or not he’ll run.
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has additionally hinted that she may throw her hat within the ring. However irrespective of who finally ends up leaping in, Ossoff’s monster fundraising haul is already sufficient to present any would-be challenger pause.
Georgia is one among simply two “toss-up” Senate races Democrats shall be defending in 2026. The opposite is Michigan, the place Sen. Gary Peters is retiring. Republicans are eyeing Georgia after Trump carried the state by almost two factors in 2024, however Ossoff has already kicked off campaigning with a rally in Atlanta with Warnock in late March.
With Republicans working cringe-worthy advertisements greater than a 12 months earlier than the election, although, it’s clear who’s actually feeling the warmth. And the GOP ought to be sweating. Whereas Ossoff is raking in tens of millions with out a named opponent, Trump’s tanking the economic system, largely with GOP assist.
Notably, Ossoff wasn’t the one Democrat reporting spectacular Q1 numbers.
In Virginia, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger raised $6.7 million in her gubernatorial bid in opposition to Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.
In the meantime, in Colorado’s eighth District, Democrat Manny Rutinel—who simply launched his marketing campaign in late January—pulled in additional than $1 million in what’s anticipated to be probably the most fiercely contested Home races of the 12 months.
If the off-year fundraising is already this fierce, Republicans may wish to begin investing in some umbrellas—a blue wave may very well be on the horizon.
Marketing campaign Motion
