Jon Ossoff’s $3,000 Makeup—What Do Georgians Think?

What a candidate spends on makeup might seem to be a trivial matter, but in the case of Sen. Jon Ossoff, some Georgians think it matters a lot.

Two weeks ago, The Washington Free Beacon published a review of Ossoff’s campaign spending. It found that he spent nearly $3,000 on a makeup artist, outspending even fellow Democrats such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib.

His most recent payment for services, amounting to $900, came on June 10.

Two weeks later, one question remains unanswered—why does he spend so much on makeup services? Ossoff didn’t respond to the Free Beacon’s inquiries, but the news outlet reported that many in the media note Ossoff’s photogenic appearance and potential aspirations to run for president in 2028.

Georgians have their own thoughts on the matter.

“I guess if he needs the makeup, that’s his decision. You can tell I don’t have it. But at the end of the day, people are going to make their choice based on how we not just view ourselves, [but] how we spend money, because I think that’s important,” Rep. Mike Collins, Ossoff’s opponent in the race for Senate, told the Daily Signal.

“It’s just the backgrounds of two people and what their perspective is on what they want to bring to this position,” he added. “My position is to be up there helping make sure that the policy that we do—and I pass good commonsense policy—is going to help the people of the state of Georgia at the end of the day.”

How candidates spend other people’s money matters. For some voters, it may signal how a person will spend taxpayers’ money once in office—and if it will be wasted.

The Daily Signal conducted man-on-the-street interviews to find out how locals feel about Ossoff’s makeup habits.

“[He spent] $3,000? He got taken. He’s an idiot,” said one woman who preferred to remain anonymous, but said she plans to vote Democrat. “If he did, he made a mistake.”

She added, “They go to Washington, and they just think that they’re the best thing since ice cream. And they’re not. … They’re just real human beings.”

Brett H. Grift, a resident of Duluth, told the Daily Signal, “I would wonder, as far as a makeup artist, the importance of it. Why would he need a makeup artist?”

Asked what he thinks of Ossoff’s job performance, Grift replied, “I haven’t heard any accomplishments.”

According to the Free Beacon’s report, Ossoff’s makeup artist of choice is Stephanie Ponder. She is known for working with actors in Hollywood, including some who have starred in “The Notebook” and “The Hunger Games.” Ossoff paid the Atlanta-based professional makeup artist $2,887 since February, as reflected in campaign finance statements.

John DeShon, of Suwanee, told the Daily Signal that the situation didn’t faze him.

“I’m not going to vote for Ossoff anyway. … I’m a Republican. [I’m] disappointed both of the senators from Georgia are Democrat,” he said. “This is not a Democratic state. That’s my feeling towards it.”