See also: Georgia's 6th Congressional District special election, 2017
This page served as a collection of campaign ads relevant to the June 20, 2017 special election runoff between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff to represent Georgia's 6th Congressional District. The seat became vacant when Tom Price was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Prior to the April 18 special election, which included 18 candidates, candidate advertisements largely were biographical in focus. Handel tried to distinguish herself from other Republican candidates in the race who had held public office. Both Handel and Ossoff faced negative ads by outside (non-candidate) organizations leading up to April 18. Handel was the leading Republican with 19.8 percent of the vote, while Ossoff was the only Democrat with more than one percent, earning 48.1 percent. As the top two vote-getters in a field in which no candidate achieved the 50 percent necessary to win outright, Handel and Ossoff advanced to a June 20 runoff. With only two candidates remaining, both candidates faced more negative ads from outside groups after April 18.
Jon Ossoff
Support for Ossoff
Ossoff's campaign ads focused on his professional experience, including his time spent with top-secret security clearance while working as a staffer for Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4). Ossoff also criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of "acting recklessly" and "embarrassing our country." Prior to the April 18 special election, Ossoff had not released any ads opposing his Republican opponents.
| "Warrior" - One of Ossoff's three initial campaign ads, released March 3, 2017. This ad described Jon Ossoff as a “relentless warrior against corruption” and highlighted his career as an investigative filmmaker and his time as a congressional aide.
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| "Accountable" - One of Ossoff's three initial campaign ads, released March 3, 2017. This ad stated that Jon Ossoff is willing to “work with anyone to do what’s right for Georgia” and that he will hold President Trump accountable when he “embarrasses our country or acts recklessly.”
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| "Countdown" - One of Ossoff's three initial campaign ads, released March 3, 2017. This ad asked viewers to imagine a life or death decision in which President Trump would need to display sound judgment in critical moments. Ossoff stated his concern over Trump’s impulsiveness, stating, “He’s not only embarrassing us on the world stage, he could start an unnecessary war. We can’t let Donald Trump put us at risk.”
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| "Need to Know" - Released March 17, 2017. This ad focused on Jon Ossoff’s career as an investigative filmmaker and described his efforts to create a documentary detailing sex slavery crimes committed by the Islamic State (ISIS).
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| "Jon Ossoff Proud" - Released April 8, 2017. This ad responded to other ads that attempted to describe Jon Ossoff as a liberal who doesn’t fit the district. Ossoff defended himself, “Yes, I’m a Georgia Democrat and I’m proud of it, but I don’t support more wasteful spending or bigger government.”
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| "Table" - Released May 3, 2017. This ad described Jon Ossoff’s desire to cut wasteful spending and help the economy of Georgia’s 6th, saying, “Here’s my plan. Cut the wasteful spending, reduce the deficit so that the economy can keep growing, and prioritize high-tech and biotech research to create more good jobs in metro Atlanta.”
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| "Connected" - Released May 15, 2017. This ad highlighted many of the same points as “Table,” including Ossoff’s desire to cut wasteful spending and the need to prioritize funding for high-tech research.
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| "Wasting" - Released May 22, 2017. This further highlighted one of the main themes of the Ossoff campaign: cutting wasteful government spending and holding leaders in Washington accountable to the taxpayers. Ossoff stated, “It’s your money they’re wasting. Washington should be accountable to you."
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| "Just Ask" - Released June 6, 2017. This ad featured business leaders who described ways to grow the local economy, including cutting wasteful spending, reducing the budget deficit, and investing in education and high-tech research. In the ad, Ossoff states, "I'm listening to them."
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| "Momentum" - Released June 15, 2017. This ad used clips of news reports and campaign events to create a narrative of the Ossoff candidacy. The ad included remarks by Ossoff and Rep. John Lewis (D), highlighted Ossoff's interactions with constituents, and urged voters to support Ossoff on June 20.
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Note: A video will be embedded for the following ad if/when available.
Ossoff for Congress ad - "National Security" - Released May 30, 2017. This ad responded to criticisms related to Ossoff's record as a national security congressional aide and criticized Ossoff's opponents for being dishonest.[5]
Opposition to Ossoff
Ossoff drew a number of ads opposing him from outside Republican groups, primarily the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). The CLF's initial ads featured footage from Ossoff's college days and criticized the 30-year-old for having a lack of experience. CLF also released multiple ads which tied Ossoff to Nancy Pelosi. The NRCC also released ads tying Ossoff to Pelosi and the Democratic establishment. The ads also criticized the money Ossoff raised from outside the district and claimed that Ossoff "doesn't even live here."[6]
| "Jon Ossoff: The Truth Strikes Back" - CLFSuperPAC ad opposing Ossoff. This ad described Jon Ossoff as inexperienced and unprepared to serve in Congress, incorporating video and audio taken at a social event while Ossoff attended Georgetown University. Ossoff is also described as “not honest, not serious, not ready,” a line used in other ads by the Congressional Leadership Fund.
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| "Jon Ossoff: Decisions" - The CLFSuperPAC's second ad opposing Ossoff. This ad criticized Jon Ossoff for exaggerating his credentials as a national security aid in Congress, stating, “Jon Ossoff lied about his resume,” and repeats the description of Ossoff as “not honest, not serious, not ready,” used in other ads by the Congressional Leadership Fund.
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| "Jon Ossoff: A Rubber Stamp" - The CLFSuperPAC's third ad opposing Ossoff. This ad stated that Jon Ossoff, if elected to Congress, “will simply rubber-stamp Nancy Pelosi’s agenda” and criticized Ossoff for the amount of money he raised from outside of the district.
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| "Extremists: Ad Against Jon Ossoff" - A CLFSuperPAC ad opposing Ossoff. This ad featured individuals who criticized Jon Ossoff for living outside of the district, stating, “He doesn’t even live here. He lived and worked with the liberals in Washington… He’s just not one of us.”
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| "DC Liberal" - NRCC ad opposing Ossoff, released April 3, 2017. This ad featured individuals who criticized Jon Ossoff for living outside of the district, stating, “He doesn’t even live here. He lived and worked with the liberals in Washington… He’s just not one of us.”
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| "Jon Ossoff: How Can We Trust Him?" - CLFSuperPAC ad released April 5, 2017. This ad criticized Jon Ossoff for receiving payments from the television network Al Jazeera for his work as an investigative filmmaker, stating, “Al Jazeera, a media outlet that has been described as a mouthpiece for terrorists, has been paying Jon Ossoff thousands of dollars, but Jon refuses to tell voters exactly how much money he has received, just like Jon refuses to tell voters the truth about his experience. What is he hiding? How can we trust him?”
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| "Jon Ossoff: Yes Man" - CLFSuperPAC ad released April 7, 2017. This ad described Jon Ossoff as a candidate who, if elected, would support the policies of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, stating, “Nancy Pelosi’s agenda put us $20 trillion in debt, and Jon Ossoff is on her side.”
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| "At Stake" - NRCC ad opposing Ossoff, released April 10, 2017. This ad featured individuals who criticized Jon Ossoff, stating, “A bunch of slick ads making himself look qualified… He misrepresented his resume, he doesn’t even live here, he can’t represent us.”
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| "Jon Ossoff's Resume" - CLFSuperPAC ad opposing Ossoff, released April 11, 2017. This ad highlighted Jon Ossoff’s age and criticized the way he characterized his national security credentials, stating, “30 year old liberal Jon Ossoff isn’t telling you the truth... Fact checkers agree that Ossoff is puffing up his resume.”
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| "Vote" - NRCC ad opposing Ossoff, released April 13, 2017. This ad included individuals who criticized Jon Ossoff for his work as a congressional aide, stating, “He lived in DC, he worked in DC. They own him… Jon Ossoff would be a complete puppet… Jon Ossoff is not one of us.”
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| "Hollywood vs Georgia" - CLFSuperPAC ad opposing Ossoff, released April 19, 2017. This ad criticized Jon Ossoff for raising the majority of his campaign funds from outside of Georgia and described him as a vote for Nancy Pelosi’s agenda, stating, “Jon Ossoff would be Nancy Pelosi’s representative, not ours.”
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| "Thank You, Georgia" - CLFSuperPAC ad opposing Ossoff, released May 8, 2017. This ad depicted fictitious residents of San Francisco, California, who thanked the people of Georgia for supporting Jon Ossoff. “We already have Nancy Pelosi as our Congresswoman, now you’re going to give us Jon Ossoff to be our Congressman. We’re proud that California is the leading funder of the Jon Ossoff campaign.”
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| "Golden Gate" - CLFSuperPAC ad opposing Ossoff, released May 22, 2017. This ad depicted fictitious residents of San Francisco, California, who described their support for Jon Ossoff. “Ossoff and Pelosi, that’s a dream team... Georgia, make San Francisco proud, send Jon Ossoff to Congress!”
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| "Risky" - NRCC ad opposing Ossoff, released May 31, 2017. This ad criticized Ossoff for supporting the Obama administration's nuclear agreement with Iran and for supporting the acceptance of Syrian refugees into the United States. "With our safety at risk, Jon Ossoff is just too risky."
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| "Kathy" - CLFSuperPAC ad opposing Ossoff, released June 1, 2017. This ad connected Ossoff with Kathy Griffin, who took graphic photos with President Trump's likeness. The ad points to Griffin's support for Ossoff and further criticizes Ossoff for the amount of money he raised from out-of-state donors.
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| "Front line" - Karen Handel ad opposing Ossoff, released June 6, 2017. This ad criticized Ossoff for the way he characterized the work of his investigative filmmaking company in an Ossoff campaign ad that aired May 30, titled, "National Security." In the ad, Ossoff said, "I sent a team to the front line against Isis to expose their atrocities against women and girls."
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| "Misleading" - America First Policies ad opposing Ossoff, released June 6, 2017. This ad noted recent terror attacks in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, further stating, "...we expect leaders to tell the truth," and criticized Ossoff for the way he characterized his national security experience.
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| "Childish radicals" - NRCC ad opposing Ossoff, released June 8, 2017. This ad connected Ossoff with others who opposed President Trump, saying, "They're childish. They're radical. DC liberals, Hollywood elites, this is who supports Jon Ossoff because Jon Ossoff is one of them."
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| "Unica" - CLFSuperPAC ad opposing Ossoff, released June 9, 2017. This ad, spoken and displayed entirely in Spanish, connected Ossoff with the policies of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and expressed support for Republican Karen Handel.
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| "Refuses" - CLFSuperPAC ad opposing Ossoff, released June 13, 2017. This ad criticized Ossoff for declining to attend a debate that would have been held by CNN.
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Karen Handel
Support for Handel
Handel's campaign ads focused on her past political career as Georgia Secretary of State and chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Ending Spending also released multiple ads supporting Handel. Their ads focused on her ability to "get things done" and referred to her as a "proven conservative leader." One also featured former Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) endorsing Handel in the race. Prior to the April 18 special election, Handel had not released any ads directly opposing any other candidates, but she did briefly mention ads from the other front-runners in the race, calling them "empty promises and gimmicks."
| "Talk" - Handel's first campaign ad, released March 29, 2017. In this ad, Karen Handel alluded to Jon Ossoff’s campaign and focused on her own record, stating, “Haven’t we had enough of politicians who talk a big game and never deliver... Enough with the empty promises and gimmicks. I’ll do more than talk, I’ll deliver.”
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| "Proven Conservative" - Ending Spending ad supporting Handel. In this ad, Karen Handel contrasted her record with other Republican candidates, stating, “Lots of promises, but who has gotten results?... There’s only one proven conservative who will fight for Georgia.”
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| "Gets Things Done" - Ending Spending ad supporting Handel, released April 12, 2017. This ad featured former Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who described his support for Karen Handel, stating, “She simply gets things done… In Congress she’ll fight for lower taxes and to strengthen our national security.”
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| "Johnny Isakson: I'm Voting for Karen Handel" - U.S. Chamber Action ad, released May 9, 2017. This ad featured Sen. Johnny Isakson, who described his support for Karen Handel, stating, “I’m supporting the person who knows our district, who is an experienced leader. I’m voting for Karen Handel. Karen has a record of fighting for us... She is the real deal.”
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| "Home" - Handel campaign ad, released May 16, 2017. In this ad, Karen Handel described her time spent living in Georgia’s 6th, stating, “I’ve been involved in the 6th district for almost 25 years... We just love this community, it’s home for us... To be able to do good for the people in this district who aren’t just constituents, but are great friends."
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| "About You" - Handel campaign ad, released June 13, 2017. In this ad, Karen Handel made a personal appeal to voters. She criticized Democrat Jon Ossoff for the amount of money he raised out of state and told voters that she shared their values and priorities.
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Opposition to Handel
Handel drew the most direct opposition of the Republican front-runners leading up to the April 18 special election. The Club for Growth, which endorsed Bob Gray (R), released ads critiquing Handel on her spending record while in office. The ads referred to her as a "big-spending career politician." Following the primary, the DCCC released an ad criticizing Handel for spending while she served as secretary of state. On May 16, Democrat Jon Ossoff's campaign released an ad criticizing Handel because she "cut off funding for Planned Parenthood cancer screenings when she was an executive at Susan G. Komen."
| "Trees" - Club for Growth ad opposing Handel, released March 28, 2017. This ad criticized Karen Handel for her handling of taxpayer funds throughout her career in Georgia, stating, “Money doesn’t grow on trees, but don’t tell that to career politician Karen Handel.”
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| "Gamble GA06" - Club for Growth ad opposing Handel and Moody, released April 13, 2017. This ad criticized both Dan Moody and Karen Handel. The ad described the two, “career politicians with tax and spend records, like when Handel pushed a massive sales tax hike, and spent taxpayer money giving contracts to cronies.”
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| "GA06 Ride" - DCCC ad opposing Handel, released April 19, 2017. This ad criticized Karen Handel for her leadership as Georgia Secretary of State, stating, “Karen Handel is just another career politician taking us for a ride… She even suggested spending 15,000 dollars on chairs, all while a billion dollars was cut from Georgia schools. Karen Handel, living the high life, she’d fit right in in Washington.”
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| "Decisions" - DCCC ad opposing Handel, released May 18, 2017. In this ad, a GA-6 constituent who worked as a nurse criticized Karen Handel for her management decisions as an executive, stating, “Karen Handel cut off funding for Planned Parenthood cancer screenings while an executive at Susan G. Komen... What Karen Handel did was unforgivable.”
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| "Unforgivable" - Ossoff for Congress ad opposing Handel, released May 16, 2017. This ad criticized Karen Handel for the way she used taxpayer money, stating, “Do we really want a partisan, self-serving, career politician representing us? Karen Handel has used her political power to serve herself... If we can’t trust her in Georgia, why would we ever trust her in Congress?”
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| "GA6-Signs" - House Majority PAC ad opposing Handel, released May 29, 2017. This ad criticized Karen Handel for the way she used taxpayer money and for the number of times she has run for political office. "No matter the office, Karen Handel is the kind of politician we can't afford."
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| "Agenda" - Ossoff for Congress ad opposing Handel, released June 2, 2017. This ad criticized Karen Handel for her stance regarding Planned Parenthood Cancer Screenings while she was an executive at Susan G. Komen. The ad showed breast cancer survivors who criticized Handel's decisions. One woman stated, "If Karen Handel didn't want to fund Planned Parenthood, she didn't have to take the job at Susan G. Komen."
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See also
- ↑ Race ratings from outside sources are their initial ratings for the 2018 election.
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2018 House Race Ratings for April 10, 2017," accessed April 11, 2017
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "Initial 2018 House Ratings," accessed April 11, 2017
- ↑ Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, "House Ratings," accessed April 11, 2017
- ↑ IQ Media, "Harry," accessed June 1, 2017
- ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "CLF Releases First Ad “The Truth Strikes Back” Against Jon Ossoff in $1.1 Million Campaign," March 2, 2017
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