10
Loading video...
By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia has surged ahead in prediction markets over the past week, and on Sunday was among the most-favored to secure the 2028 Democrat presidential candidate nomination.
This occurs as Ossoff intensifies his criticism of the Trump administration: At a rally in Augusta, Georgia on Saturday, he took aim at President Donald Trump for a range of issues tied to the Iran war and affordability, as well as "spectacular" levels of corruption.
Why It Matters
Early polling and reporting show a crowded and fluid Democratic field for 2028, with no consensus front‑runner and frequent reshuffling driven by surveys and political developments. Scandals, policy positioning, and electoral performance in down‑ballot races are shaping perceptions of viability, with the decline of some hopefuls opening space for others to rise.
Read More on Politics
As Democratic leaders debate strategy after recent election cycles, coverage notes that polling momentum—and doubts about electability—continue to shift, suggesting the 2028 nomination remains highly unsettled and contested.
...
What To Know
Ossoff sits squarely behind overwhelming favorite Governor Gavin Newsom of California and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who have 24 percent and nine percent, respectively, after which Ossoff has an eight percent chance of succeeding, according to Kalshi.
This puts him ahead of former Vice President Kamala Harris, who has 6.5 percent, and Pete Buttigieg, who has 5.6 percent, or even Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who was touted as a strong potential 2028 nominee but sits sixth at 5.4 percent.
Polymarket has seen similar numbers and rankings, although Harris sits just ahead of Ossoff in that prediction market, with a seven percent chance compared to Ossoff's six percent chance. Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez still rank first and second, respectively, with 27 percent chance and eight percent chance.
At his rally,, Ossoff spoke to over a thousand people as he addressed a number of grievances with the administration, but his most pointed criticism focused on what he saw as unprecedented levels of corruption.
"Never before have we seen so little effort to hide so much corruption," Ossoff said. "The Mar-a-Lago mafia has taken American corruption to spectacular new heights."
“Can you imagine, like a normal, sitting US ambassador just hitting up Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman for billions of dollars? But he’s a Trump, a royal, a princeling. The rules are for us, not for them. And it’s not just Jared getting in on the action,” the senator said.
“Meanwhile, rent, power, groceries and healthcare have all hit all-time highs this year,” the senator said. “While you pay more for everything, the first family’s wealth is growing by billions of dollars – because they’re crooks, and everybody knows it.”
Update 4/19/26, 8:02 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines