The Hollywood angle to the Georgia 6th District race everyone’s watching

CHAMBLEE, GA - JUNE 19: Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff speaks to the media as he visits a campaign office to thank volunteers and supporters as he runs for Georgia's 6th Congressional District on June 19, 2017 in Chamblee, Georgia. Ossoff is running in a special election against the Republican candidate Karen Handel to replace Tom Price, who is now the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The election will fill a congressional seat that has been held by a Republican since the 1970s. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The most expensive House race in U.S. history is under way in the northern suburbs of Atlanta.

The race for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District seat between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff has become a proxy for the national political climate and a bellwether for the 2018 midterm elections.

The high-profile race has drawn the interest of Hollywood as well. Celebrities from Samuel L. Jackson to comedian Chelsea Handler have voiced their support for Ossoff. In response, Handel and her supporters have run television ads targeting Ossoff’s Hollywood ties. One spot, for instance, is titled “Hollywood Versus Georgia.”

Guest host Libby Denkmann in for Larry Mantle

Guests:

Ted Johnson, a senior editor at Variety who covers the intersection of politics and entertainment; his piece looking at Jon Ossoff’s Hollywood support was published today

Celeste Headlee, host and executive producer of talk show “On Second Thought” on Georgia Public Broadcasting; she lives in Georgia’s 6th district