Hollywood celebrity Chelsea Handler has helped Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff reach record fundraising levels with her contributions, but she doesn't even know when the election is.
Handler demonstrated this Tuesday when she invited her nearly seven million Twitter followers to get out and vote for Ossoff—even though the election isn't taking place until next week on April 18.
Special elections today in Georgia. Vote for @JonOssoff in Georgia. He's our man.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) April 11, 2017
The errant message likely didn't cause too much confusion for southern voters in Georgia, who appear less energized about next week's election than residents of liberal bastions like Hollywood. Ninety-five percent of contributions to Ossoff's campaign—including $2,700 from Handler—have come from sources outside of Georgia.
Handler's sudden interest in the Southern election comes a year after she revealed in an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer that she associates racism with "really like dumb … people from the South."
Handler is far from the only Hollywood celebrity who has taken an interest in the 30-year-old former congressional staffer and investigative filmmaker for Al Jazeera.
Other celebrities contributing to Ossoff's effort include Ashton Kutcher's Two and a Half Men costar Jon Cryer, Rosie O'Donnell, Debra Messing, George Takei, John Leguizamo, Sam Waterston, and Kristen Bell.
Ossoff has received financial support from less-well-known members of the Hollywood scene such as Shannon Fitzgerald, a reality television producer who claims to have "discovered the Kardashian family." Fitzgerald held a fundraiser for Ossoff last month in Los Angeles.
Fitzgerald cohosted the fundraiser with Rose McGowan, who made her film debut in Encino Man before starring in Jawbreaker and the television show Charmed.
Raised money for @ossoff (D) GA 6 while eating amazing custom cupcakes from #polkatots & sipping great wine from #consensiowine #flipthe6th
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) April 5, 2017
Unlike other supporters, Hollywood actors Alyssa Milano and Christopher Gorham, of Ugly Betty fame, actually traveled to Georgia to drive voters to the polls in late March.
No joke. Call 678-636-9551 and @Alyssa_Milano and I WILL PICK YOU UP and take you to early vote! Now. @ossoff #Georgia6th pic.twitter.com/HA3nGuirQr
— Christopher Gorham (@ChrisGorham) March 27, 2017
Republican critics have used Ossoff's out-of-state support to publicize the fact that Ossoff doesn't even live in the district he is running to represent. When pressed on the issue, Ossoff said he would move to the district if he wins.
Ossoff also has been criticized by Democratic opponents in the race for owning a foreign business.
The special election for Georgia's 6th Congressional District will take place April 18. If Ossoff fails to receive over 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election between the top two candidates will occur on June 20.