Dem
47
GOP
53
Jon Ossoff is suffering due to cancer. And he doesn't even have cancer. It is more complicated than that. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) is running for governor of Georgia, following in the steps of Stacey Abrams, another charismatic Black woman who tried to get the job. Since it is an open-seat election on account of Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) being term limited, McBath might have a chance.
Now here's the problem. McBath's husband, Curtis McBath, has suffered complications from cancer surgery. She said her first priority is to help him with his recovery. This means she has to suspend her gubernatorial campaign. She might pick it up later and she might not. But this situation makes it hard for other Democrats to make a decision about jumping into the gubernatorial race, or not.
So, how does this affect Ossoff? He won in 2020 in no small part because now-Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) was on the ticket. This caused a huge turnout among Black voters, which helped Ossoff enormously. In 2026, he is on his own. If Kemp runs for the seat, Ossoff will have a tough fight on his hands. However, if McBath runs for governor, that will also goose Democratic turnout, particularly Black Democratic turnout, which will definitely help Ossoff. If McBath drops out, Ossoff will have to win entirely on his own. He has to hope that McBath's husband recovers quickly and she continues her campaign. (V)