EXCLUSIVE: How Georgia media is running ads for Jon Ossoff
THE LOWDOWN:
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D., Ga.) is one of the Democratic Party’s top fundraisers, but Georgia media is running what several strategists described as in-kind contributions to his 2026 campaign.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is currently running Facebook ads, according to the Facebook Ad Library, that read like press releases for the vulnerable freshman Democrat.
Chan Jones, the chairman of the 8th District GOP, told the Reporter that “it is beyond shameful that the Atlanta paper is paying to promote what effectively amount to pro-Jon Ossoff campaign advertisements on social media.”
Both Reps. Buddy Carter (R., Ga.) and Mike Collins (R., Ga.) are sitting Republican officeholders who are challenging Ossoff in next year’s election. The AJC is currently running zero ads featuring either of their names, a search by the Reporter revealed.
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D., Ga.) is one of the Democratic Party’s top fundraisers, but Georgia media is running what several strategists described as in-kind contributions to his 2026 campaign.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is currently running Facebook ads, according to the Facebook Ad Library, that read like press releases for the vulnerable freshman Democrat.
One active AJC ad simply reads, “U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., asked Trump administration officials pointed budget questions at two different congressional hearings this week.”
The ad links to an AJC story called “Back from paternity leave, Ossoff takes on Trump administration officials.” The ad has been live for almost a month.
“It is fucking crazy,” a Georgia Republican unaligned with any Senate campaign told the Washington Reporter. “They are so in the tank for him.”
“Half their stories are just ripping his press releases verbatim and putting the AJC masthead on it,” the Georgia Republican said.
Chan Jones, the chairman of the 8th District GOP, told the Reporter that “it is beyond shameful that the Atlanta paper is paying to promote what effectively amount to pro-Jon Ossoff campaign advertisements on social media.”
“This is a perfect example of why Americans no longer trust the legacy media and their in kind donations of support to the far left,” Jones said.
Both Reps. Buddy Carter (R., Ga.) and Mike Collins (R., Ga.) are sitting Republican officeholders who are challenging Ossoff in next year’s election. The AJC is currently running zero ads featuring either of their names, a search by the Reporter revealed.
A GOP operative told the Reporter that “The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has plenty of stories they could use for advertising, but instead they repeatedly boosted positive stories about a Democrat candidate for political office in one of the most competitive races in the country.”
“Providing cover for the most vulnerable Senate incumbent is not the ‘balanced environment for their readers’ that their mission statement promises,” the operative said.