Jon Ossoff targeted over transgender stance in Georgia Senate hopeful’s new ad

House Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., is making headlines with a new ad targeting Georgia’s senior senator, Jon Ossoff, over his stance on transgender student athletes. The 30-second advertisement titled “Ossoff Fan” features a transgender woman criticizing Carter’s Republican views.

The ad opens with a transgender woman, depicted by a biological male wearing a wig and a dress, watching Carter on Fox News. The transgender person complains about Carter’s loyalty to Trump, his support for deportations, and his belief in only two genders. The ad implies that Carter’s Senate run is unfair to Ossoff, who has supposedly done a lot for the transgender community.

The ad’s focus on transgender issues highlights the ongoing debate within the Republican Party and its potential impact on voter turnout. In the 2024 general election, this issue played a significant role, with moderate Democrats criticizing their party’s intolerance of differing views.

Ossoff, a first-term senator, is seen as a vulnerable target for Republicans in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Carter’s early entry into the race, following Governor Brian Kemp’s decision not to run, positions him as a frontrunner for the GOP nomination. Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King is also running as a Republican candidate.

One of the key issues in the race is the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which aims to prevent transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. Ossoff joined other Democratic senators in filibustering this bill, sparking criticism from Republicans.

The Carter campaign’s ad is part of a larger effort to challenge Ossoff on his stance regarding transgender inclusion in sports. One Nation, a nonprofit advocacy group aligned with Senate Republican leadership, ran a similar ad targeting Ossoff for his vote against the women’s sports bill.

As the midterm cycle heats up, the debate over transgender rights and sports participation is likely to remain a contentious issue. Ossoff’s response to these attacks from Carter and other Republicans will be closely watched as the race for the Senate seat in Georgia intensifies.