Republican candidate Karen Handel has won a special election in Georgia, delivering a significant boost to US president Donald Trump as he struggles with historically-low approval ratings and a deepening Russia scandal.
Ms Handel, the 55-year-old former secretary of state for Georgia, beat Democratic hopeful Jon Ossoff in the race for the congressional seat in Georgia’s sixth district following Tom Price’s appointment to Trump’s cabinet.
The closely-watched race was widely seen as a barometer of public support for Mr Trump.
Well, the Special Elections are over and those that want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN are 5 and O! All the Fake News, all the money spent = 0
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2017
Congratulations to Karen Handel on her big win in Georgia 6th. Fantastic job, we are all very proud of you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2017
With almost all votes counted, Ms Handel looked set to win the district with 53 per cent of the vote, with 30-year-old Mr Ossoff taking 47 per cent. Mr Ossoff, a former Congressional aide and film-maker, had taken the political world by surprise when he came within one percentage point of winning the district in the first round of elections last month. A staunchly Republican seat, the sixth district of Georgia has been held by Republicans since 1979. But despite Democrats spending millions of dollars on the campaign, the Republican candidate comfortably won the district in an affluent suburb of Atlanta, raising questions about the Democrats’ ability to win seats in next year’s mid-term elections.
Addressing supporters in Atlanta, Ms Handel specifically thanked US president Donald Trump in her victory speech, prompting cheers from the crowd. Mr Trump had earlier tweeted his congratulations to the Republican candidate: “Congratulations to Karen Handel on her big win in Georgia 6th. Fantastic job, we are all very proud of you!.” A second tweet said: “Well, the Special Elections are over and those that want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN are 5 and O! All the Fake News, all the money spent = 0”
House Speaker Paul Ryan also congratulated the Republican candidate, one of the first senior Republicans to comment on her victory.
“Democrats from coast to coast threw everything they had at this race, and Karen would not be defeated,” he said in a statement.
The election attracted more than $50 million in funding, with many viewing the battle to replace Tom Price as a referendum on Donald Trump.
Amid fears that Mr Ossoff could capitalise on his strong performance in the first-round vote in May, Republican supporters hit back with a number of controversial ads in the run-up to the election.
One controversial ad appeared to link Mr Ossoff with last week’s shooting that left Republican congressman Steve Scalise wounded. The ad, which blames “unhinged leftists” on the attack, was condemned by both campaigns on Monday.
Another advertisement carried by a pro-Trump super-PAC called the Great America Alliance carried a quote from former president Barack Obama that appeared to encourage black voters to support the Republican party. In fact the quote, taken from Obama’s 1995 memoir Dreams of My Father, referred to a statement from another person which was quoted in the book.
As expected, a separate election in South Carolina on Tuesday to fill the seat vacated by Mick Mulvaney following his appointment by President Trump as director of the office of management and budget was won by Republican candidate Ralph Norman.
“Ralph Norman ran a fantastic race to win in the Great State of South Carolina’s 5th District. We are all honored by your success tonight!” Mr Trump tweeted.
The double Republican victory on Tuesday means that Republican candidates have won all four special elections held this year to fill seats vacated by Republican congressmen who have joined the Trump administration.
