Joe Lieberman’s son running for Senate in Georgia

The first Democrat to announce his campaign for an open U.S. Senate seat in Georgia hopes to follow in the footsteps of a father who spent a quarter-century in the upper chamber.

Matt Lieberman, a small business owner in Cobb County, Ga., and the son of former Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), said Thursday he will run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson (R). 

{mosads}“I am running because I am fed up with the do-nothing politicians who care more about getting re-elected than governing,” Matt Lieberman said in a statement announcing his campaign. “The people of Georgia deserve representatives that will fight the NRA [National Rifle Association], stand up for reproductive rights, and support policies to ensure every American has access to quality, affordable health care.”

It will be Lieberman’s first run for political office. He moved to Atlanta five years after his father was Al Gore’s vice presidential running mate.

In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Lieberman said his father would be a part of his campaign — whether in a formal or informal way.

“Whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him, everyone respected the integrity he had in public life,” the younger Lieberman said of his father. “If people were fans of my dad, maybe they’ll give me an extra hearing. And for people who aren’t fans, I want them to remember we’re different people and to hear me out as well. I’m confident they will. That’s all I can ask for.”

Lieberman is the first Democrat to enter the race to succeed Isakson, who cited health problems in announcing he would step down at the end of the year. He would have to run against a senator appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp (R) in next year’s elections.

About 500 people have filed applications to fill Isakson’s seat, including former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Rep. Doug Collins (R), former Rep. Paul Broun (R), state House Speaker pro tem Jan Jones (R) and Jackie Gingrich Cushman, the daughter of the former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Lieberman told the Journal-Constitution that he had considered jumping into the race against Sen. David Perdue (R), who is up for reelection next year as well.

At least eight Democrats have entered that race, including Jon Ossoff, the Democrat who narrowly lost a special election to replace Price in Congress in 2017.