User:LizArchive/Richard Ossoff

Richard Jonathon Ossoff (born January 1st, 1957) is an American politician who served as the U.S. Representative from the 5th/6th Congressional District of Savannah from 1985 to 1991, and was a candidate for the Social Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States in 1988. An Independent politician, he was born and currently lives in Savannah, a state typically won by New Republicans by comfortable margins.

Personal Life
Richard Ossoff was born to parents Michael Ossoff and Mary Ossoff on January 1st, 1957. He was born in Atlanta, Savannah, and still lives there. On June 9th, 1984, Richard Ossoff married Heather Ossoff. Richard Ossoff announced him and his wife were having a child on June 7th, 1986. 

1984 House Campaign
Richard Ossoff filed with the Federal Election Commission in March 1984 to run for the United States House of Representatives in Savannah's 6th Congressional District. This was the first House race in Savannah District 6 after the reset. Ossoff's race was unopposed, so, despite the fact that he never formally announced his candidacy, Ossoff easily won, with 100% of the votes. 

Endorsements
Richard Ossoff received no endorsements, likely due to the fact that the House race he was running in had no candidates running, apart from himself, of course.

1986 House Campaign
In November 1985, Richard Ossoff again filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for the United States House of Representatives, but for Savannah's 5th Congressional District, instead of the 6th. The seat was previously won in 1984 by Ox Dise Caulk, but she decided to run for Savannah Senate Class III in 1986, so her House seat was up for grabs. Ossoff's opponent was James Reagan, an Independent Candidate who had never previously held office. Ossoff formally announced his candidacy on February 25th, 1986. The Ossoff campaign spent $750,000 on advertisements in this election, and coming into election night, they were confident that Ossoff would win, which he did. Richard Ossoff beat James Reagan by a comfortable amount, getting 55% of the votes while Reagan got only 30% of the votes. 

Endorsements
Richard Ossoff received only 1 endorsement in his re-election campaign. He was endorsed by Andrew Palin, who had recently come out of a coma. 

Potential Ossoff Party
On March 30th, 1986, Richard Ossoff announced he was legitimately considering leaving the Social Democratic Party and creating the Ossoff Party. Ossoff said he would make a decision after the 1986 Election. On December 23rd, 1986, Ossoff announced he would not be leaving the Social Democratic Party, nor would he be creating an Ossoff Party. 

1988 Presidential Campaign
On December 25th, 1986, Richard Ossoff announced his intention to run for the Social Democratic Party's Presidential nomination in 1988, and he was one of this first to do this. When he announced that he intended to run, Ossoff was not taken seriously, and was often accused of not having enough experience to be the President of the United States. However, Ossoff performed better than expected in early polling, often being in second place. Unfortunately, in late June of 1987, incumbent President of the United States, Jeremy Grenwich, confirmed to a few members of Congress in private that he would be running for re-election, obliterating Ossoff's chances at a winning campaign. On July 2nd, 1987, Richard Ossoff dropped out of the 1988 United States presidential election, and endorsed Harley Morris-Hintza for the Social Democratic Party's Presidential Nomination. Sadly, on July 17th, 1987, Harley Morris-Hintza died, therefore, he was no longer a candidate. On August 3rd, 1987, Ossoff endorsed Alexandria Ocasio-Mondale for President of the United States. On November 29th, 1987, Ossoff retracted his endorsement for Alexandria Ocasio-Mondale and endorsed Robert F. Kennedy. 

Running Mate
Ossoff's campaign took a gut punch when Harley Morris-Hintza announced that Jackson Cole, an extremely popular Senator from Savannah, would be his running mate. Soon after, on May 6th, 1987, Ossoff announced that Ox Dise Caulk, a member of the New Republican Party would be his running mate. Although it seemed like an odd choice to have a New Republican as his running mate, it showed that Ossoff was willing to work with the other side.

Polling
Early polling suggested that Richard Ossoff would place second in the Social Democratic Party's 1988 Presidential Primaries, and that Harley Morris-Hintza was the frontrunner. However, as time progressed, Ossoff slowly did worse and worse in the polls, averaging 10% in most polls.

Suspension And Aftermath
On July 2nd, 1987, Richard Ossoff announced that he was no longer a 1988 Presidential Candidate, and endorsed Harley Morris-Hintza. While there are many reasons for him doing this, the main two reasons was how his performance in the polls had dropped significantly in the final months of his campaign, and how he had very little experience. After he announced he was dropping out, he was criticized for claiming the incumbent President, Jeremy Grenwich, was incompetent, when Ossoff himself hadn't passed a single piece of legislation during his time in the United States House of Representatives.

1988 House Campaign
In late November of 1987, nearly five months after dropping out of the 1988 United States presidential election, Richard Ossoff filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for the United States House of Representatives, but this time, he switched back to his original District, which was District 6. However, a few days later, Ossoff decided not to switch Districts, and just stay in District 5. Ossoff easily won, receiving 100% of the votes. 

Endorsements
Richard Ossoff received 1 endorsement in his 1988 re-election campaign. He was endorsed by Thomas J.H. Rivera. 

1990 Election
Richard Ossoff did not run for re-election in 1990, for unknown reasons. However, his decision may have to do with the United States House of Representatives being cringe.

1992 Election
Again, Richard Ossoff did not run for any government postition in 1992, for unknown reasons.

1994 Senate Campaign
On November 2nd, 1992, Richard Ossoff announced he was considering a run for the United States House of Representatives in 1994. On December 27th, 1992, Ossoff announced he had left the Social Democratic Party, and had become an Independent. On November 22nd, 1993, Ossoff announced that he had a big announcement coming, leaving many to believe he was going to announce he was running for the House of Representatives in 1994. On Novemember 24th, 1993, Ossoff announced he was running for the United States Senate in 1994. Ossoff was considered to have no chance of winning, and was expected to get less than 10%, as he was running against Jackson Cole, who was extremely popular. However, Ossoff's campaign believed he could do much better than the last candidate that challenged Cole, which he did. Ossoff got nearly 30% of the votes, doing much better than Cole's last opponent.

Endorsements
Richard Ossoff received no endorsements in his 1994 campaign for United States Senate.

1996 House Campaign
Even before Election Day in 1994, Richard Ossoff was expected to run for the United States House of Representatives in 1996, because he was expected to lose his 1994 United States Senate election. On December 20th, 1994, Ossoff teased a run for the House in his concession speech for his 1994 Senate election. On February 12, 1996, Ossoff announced he was was running for the United States House of Representatives, in the 4th district of Savannah. Ossoff's opponent was James Reagan, making it a rematch from his 1986 campaign. Ossoff beat Reagan by just 0.2%, making it one of the closest House elections in history. 

Endorsements
Richard Ossoff was endorsed by Janet Jackson, Cave Johnson Jr. , Jackson Cole , and Arjun Smith Sr..