The most expensive House race in history came to a conclusion on Tuesday, as Republican Karen Handel defeated Democrat Jon Ossoff in the special election in Georgia’s sixth congressional district, with 52.5% of the vote to Ossoff’s 47.5%, according to AP.
According to Issue One, the combined amount all candidates and political groups invested in the special election totaled $59.6 million; Ossoff raised $23.9 million; Handel raised $4.9 million. Ossoff outspent Handel roughly 5 to 1 during all phases of the campaign, which was to find a replacement for Congressman Tom Price, who was appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services by President Trump.
The race in the traditionally strong Republican district was seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump and the GOP, especially as Ossoff made statements such as “make Trump furious” and “send a message that will be heard across the country and around the world.” Trump intervened as well, tweeting that Ossoff “wants to raise your taxes to the highest level and is weak on crime and security.”
Jere Wood, the mayor of Roswell, Handel’s home town, opined that the national coverage given to the race gave the wrong impression, arguing, “They have tried to make this a national election, but it is a local election.”
On Tuesday, Handel, a former Georgia Secretary of State, pointed out at her polling place that Ossoff, who was raised in the district, lives a few miles away from the district, although Ossoff only does so his fiancé can be close to the medical school she attends. Handel had often claimed Ossoff’s values were “3,000 miles away.”