Jon Ossoff’s wife Alisha Kramer missed his historic win to work in hospital
As Mr Ossoff declares victory, his wife delivers babies at Atlanta hospital working overnight
Dr Alisha Kramer, the wife of Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff spent election night at the hospital instead of following the results with her husband and the campaign as he declared victory.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter Patricia Murphy got the news from the campaign.
"I want to thank my wonderful wife Alisha who as we speak is at the hospital helping Georgia mothers deliver healthy babies, helping save lives," Mr Ossoff said in his victory speech, which was streamed live on YouTube on Wednesday morning.
"Let's emulate the spirit of courage and heroism of those who have given so much to the health response to this crisis as we unite as a people to overcome this challenge of Covid-19 and to build a republic that lives up to our highest ideals of equality in God's eyes and equal justice under the law," Mr Ossoff continued.
Dr Kramer has featured heavily in ads for the Ossoff campaign as an authority on Covid.
Mr Ossoff and Dr Kramer have dated since they were in their teens. He finally proposed after 12 years together.
She is an OB/GYN at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, graduating with her medical degree in 2018.
She testified against the so-called "Heartbeat bill" in the Georgia state senate in 2019, which made abortions illegal in the state once a heartbeat could be detected.
Doctors violating the law could receive up to 10 years in prison. A district judge invalidated the regulation in July 2020.
Dr Kramer tested positive for Covid-19 that same month. Mr Ossoff experienced symptoms but tested negative but still took the precaution of avoiding in-person events.
After getting her Bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, which included studies abroad in Denmark, Dr Kramer earned a Master's degree from the London School of Economics.
Both Mr Ossoff and fellow Democrat Reverend Raphael Warnock have now declared victory in their respective races, meaning that if the results hold the Democrats will take unified power of government by the slimmest of margins, taking control of the Senate only because Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be able to break 50-50 ties as the president of the Senate. Mr Ossoff’s race has not officially been called for him as yet.
The last time Democrats had unified control was during the 111th Congress, from 2009 to 2011.
Neither Senator Perdue nor Senator Loeffler have conceded so far.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies