Democrat Jon Ossoff said Friday he won’t make another bid for Georgia’s 6th District this year, leaving it up to lesser-known contenders to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Karen Handel in the north Atlanta district.
“I’m grateful beyond words for the support and hard work of the thousands of Georgians who volunteered with my campaign last year,” he told the AJC, “and I’ll be actively supporting Democratic candidates and staying engaged on key issues while I continue my work in investigative journalism.”
Ossoff shattered records by raising nearly $30 million for the special election last year, ultimately losing to Handel by about 4 percentage points in a race that was viewed nationally as an early barometer for Democratic success in conservative-leaning districts in the Donald Trump era.
The former congressional aide had hinted for months he was eyeing another bid for the seat, telling groups of Democratic donors he’s “not done fighting.” But with qualifying set to start in less than two weeks, and two Democratic challengers already in the race, there seemed little chance of him jumping in.
Read more: Ossoff isn’t seeking a comeback bid for Georgia’s 6th District