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US representative Karen Handel conceded Thursday to Democrat Lucy McBath during the 6th District congressional race, a big surprise that highlighted the strength of Democrats in the GOP-dominated suburbs.
"After carefully reviewing all the data of the election results, it is clear that I was a bit short on Tuesday," Handel said in a statement. "Congratulations to the elected representative Lucy McBath and send her only good thoughts and lots of prayer for the journey that awaits her."
McBath claimed victory in the race Wednesday afternoon after narrowly leading Handel to several thousand votes.
The suburbs of the 6th district, which included parts of Fulton, DeKalb and Cobb counties, were the scene of the most expensive congressional race of all time last year. In this special election to replace Tom Price, Handel defeated Democrat Jon Ossoff by 4% after tens of millions of dollars were spent to convince voters.
McBath will become the first person of color to represent the 6th district and the third African-American woman to represent Georgia in Congress.
A substitute for the Everytown gun control group for gun safety, McBath said that lobbying for the adoption of new gun control policies would be his top priority upon his arrival in Washington .
"After Parkland, I was forced to participate in this race for Congress – to provide leadership that would aim to improve the profitability of life," said McBath, a former air hostess who is became the firearms control lawyer after her teenage son, Jordan Davis. was shot dead as a result of a racist conflict in 2012.
Formerly represented by Newt Gingrich, Johnny Isakson and Price, the 6th District was until recently considered Republican. Mitt Romney took the district by 24 percentage points in 2012, but Donald Trump won by less than 2 percentage points in 2016.
Handel's dismissal comes after the Republicans fought on election night in many suburban seats that were once party friends, including states like Texas and Kansas. Disdain for Trump, coupled with a wave of energy left, helped reverse the trend.
McBath also benefited from the high turnout rate of the Georgia Governor's race.
Another suburban seat of Atlanta House in the 7th district next door was still too close to be called Thursday morning, while reigning Republican Rob Woodall was hanging on to a lead over Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux.
McBath and Bourdeaux both used national fundraising networks to raise millions of dollars. They also benefited from significant help from the Liberal mega-donor Michael Bloomberg, broadcast on Atlanta TV, which allowed them to improve their profile.
Outside political groups have largely remained out of Atlanta because they have focused on other races, leaving the democrats free to define themselves. And the Washington Republicans did not intervene to help Handel until two weeks ago.
Handel's campaign strategy was twofold.
In her television and social media commercials, she has focused heavily on selling her party's political victories, including GOP tax cuts, opioid legislation, and bills. against trafficking in human beings. But on the stump, she assaulted McBath for his personal finances, his brief stay in Tennessee and his relationship with Bloomberg, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.
Meanwhile, McBath thanked Haendel for being a Trump sycophant and told his personal story. She would begin many speeches about her stump, saying that she "would always be Jordan's mother."
The Democrat also campaigned to support Obamacare and expand Medicaid.
Handel, who was previously secretary of state and chair of the Fulton County Commission, thanked her supporters in a statement Thursday.
"When I was elected last year, I promised to give everything to represent you and the whole district. I did my best to do it, every moment of every day, "she said.
McBath will replace Handel as the only female member of the 16-member Georgian Congress delegation. Its headquarters will become an immediate target for Republicans seeking revenge in 2020.
Learn more about McBath here.
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