Class News
Joe Lieberman '64’s son Matt is running for U.S. Senate in Georgia
December 21, 2019
Tony Lavely, ’64 Class Secretary, reports: “I had coffee in Atlanta with Matt Lieberman after I saw the following article. Matt is Yale College ’89 and Yale Law School ’94. He rowed at Yale and still takes a boat out on the Chattahoochee River.”
Matt Lieberman, son of former VP nominee, runs for Senate in Georgia
Atlanta Journal Constitution
October 3, 2019
Matt Lieberman, an entrepreneur who is the son of former U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, became the first Democrat to enter the race for retiring Republican Johnny Isakson’s seat on Thursday with a promise to be a voice for frustrated Georgians.
“I’m running as a fed-up citizen of Georgia and for the fed-up citizens of Georgia,” he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I feel like I have to get off my butt and do something. I feel this is a calling. The gap between what Georgians want and what Republicans reflect in Georgia is huge.”
A political newcomer, Lieberman said he will advocate for new gun restrictions, push for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, back abortion rights, and support a “public option” which would make a government healthcare plan available as an alternative to private insurance.
He said he expects his father to factor into his campaign as an informal adviser. A four-term Connecticut senator, Joe Lieberman served as Al Gore’s running mate in 2000 but was an independent by the end of his political career. “Whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him, everyone respected the integrity he had in public life,” said Lieberman. “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.”
While Lieberman is the lone Democrat running to succeed Isakson, who is retiring at the end of the year, he won’t be the last. About a dozen prominent Democrats are considering a run, including state Sens. Jen Jordan and Nikema Williams, DeKalb chief executive Mike Thurmond, and ex-U.S. Attorney Ed Tarver.
Lieberman faces an array of challenges. He has little name recognition, unproven fundraising ability, and he won’t have the support of party leaders, who are likely to rally behind someone with a higher public profile and political experience. Lieberman said he aims to quickly prove he’s a credible contender, and he’s already assembled a team of media consultants, pollsters, and strategists. He said his six-figure campaign account will help him “hit the ground running.”
“Facts on the ground speak louder than anything. All I can do is run the best campaign that I can,” he said. “That ranges from raising money as well as I can to spreading my message and connecting with as many people as I can. The people and politicians will look at that and make their judgments.”