Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) was the top pick of attendees at a progressive convention in Washington, D.C., to be Democrats’ standard-bearer in the 2028 presidential election.
Of the 990 poll respondents at Crooked Con, hosted by Crooked Media, 38.4% of attendees selected Ossoff as their first choice for the 2028 Democratic nominee. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) came in second with 16.6% of the vote, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came in third with almost 14%.
The conference brought together elected officials, journalists, and political strategists for panels, strategy sessions, media appearances. Several floated 2028 contenders appeared at Saturday’s event at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, including Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Ossoff has denied he plans to seek the Oval Office, saying he has “zero interest in running for president.”
Still, the Georgia senator, who was reelected for a second term in Tuesday’s elections, is seen as a leading contender for the nomination.
Respondents were asked three questions total, including their first and second choice for the Democratic nomination. Of the second-choice picks, Ossoff also led with 22.6%. Buttigieg came in second with 16.4%, and Ocasio-Cortez came in third with 13.5%.
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Ossoff’s six-year second term in the Senate does not end until 2032, meaning if elected as president, he would have to resign his seat.
Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, won the Georgia governorship on Tuesday, further igniting speculation that Ossoff could run, since Lance Bottoms would appoint his replacement if he won the presidency.