2017_Georgia's_6th_congressional_district_special_election

2017 Georgia's 6th congressional district special election

2017 Georgia's 6th congressional district special election

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A special election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for Georgia's 6th congressional district was held on April 18, 2017, with a runoff held two months later on June 20. Republican Karen Handel narrowly defeated Democrat Jon Ossoff in the runoff vote, 51.8% to 48.2%. Handel succeeded Tom Price, who resigned from the seat following his confirmation as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration. The runoff election was necessary when no individual candidate earned the majority of votes in the election on April 18. Ossoff received 48.1% of the vote in the first round, followed by Handel with 19.8%.

Quick Facts Georgia's 6th congressional district, Turnout ...

Georgia's state law requires the governor of Georgia to call for a special election to be held at least 30 days after a vacancy. Following Price's resignation, Governor Nathan Deal called for the special election to be held on April 18,[1] with a filing window for prospective candidates from February 13 to 15, 2017.[2] All candidates ran on one ballot, with a runoff election scheduled for the first- and second-place finishers, if no candidate received 50% of the vote.[3] Neither Ossoff nor Handel received a majority, and despite Ossoff finishing nearly 30 points ahead in the first round, Handel nonetheless prevailed in the runoff election, though she would ultimately lose reelection in 2018 to Democrat Lucy McBath. Ossoff would later go on to be elected a United States senator, defeating incumbent David Perdue in the 2021 runoff election, becoming the first Jewish senator from Georgia, the first millennial elected to the Senate, and the youngest Democratic senator elected since Joe Biden in 1972.

The election attracted exceptional national interest, with both major parties perceiving it as an opportunity to shape the political narrative prior to the 2018 midterm elections.[4][5] The district has a history of favoring GOP House candidates by large margins, but Trump won it by just 1% in 2016, making Democrats hopeful to win a normally strong GOP district. A total of $50 million was spent as of the close of early-voting period on June 17, making it the most expensive House election in history.[6] Of that, more than $40 million was spent on television and radio advertising alone, smashing past House election records.[7] A very high number of voters—140,000—cast ballots during the runoff-election early-voting period.[6]

Candidates

Republican Party

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Democratic Party

Declared

  • Ragin Edwards, sales senior manager[19]
  • Richard Keatley, college professor and former officer in the Navy[19]
  • Jon Ossoff, filmmaker, media executive, investigative journalist, former congressional aide[26][27]
  • Rebecca Quigg, physician[8]
  • Ron Slotin, former state senator and candidate for GA-04 in 1996[23][28]

Withdrew

Declined

Libertarian Party

Declined

Independent

Declared

  • Alexander Hernandez[33]
  • Andre Pollard, computer systems engineer[15]

Withdrew

  • Joseph Pond, plumber[30]

Special election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...

Endorsements

David Abroms
Bob Gray
Organizations
Dan Moody
Federal politicians

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...

Runoff

On April 18, 2017, no candidate received 50% of the vote in the blanket primary ("jungle primary").[55] Ossoff led with about 48.1% of the vote, Republican candidate Karen Handel received 19.8%, and the remainder of votes were scattered for 16 other candidates.[56][57] Because no candidate secured an absolute majority, the top two-vote-getters, Ossoff and Handel, competed in a runoff election on June 20, 2017.[58][57] Ossoff won all but 1% of the Democratic vote, while the Republican vote was more heavily split. Republicans collectively won 51.2% of the overall vote.[59]

Ossoff broke national fundraising records for a U.S. House candidate.[60] In total, Ossoff's campaign raised more than $23 million, two-thirds of which was contributed by small-dollar donors nationwide.[61] Ossoff's opponent, Karen Handel, and national Republican groups attacked Ossoff for raising significant small-dollar contributions from outside of Georgia, although Handel's campaign received the bulk of its support from super PACs and other outside groups, including those funded anonymously by so-called "dark money".[62][63] Combined spending by the campaigns and outside groups on their behalf added up to over $55 million, which was the most expensive House Congressional election in U.S. history.[64] During the campaign, Republican strategy focused on connecting Ossoff to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, a polarizing and unpopular figure; Ossoff declined to say whether he would, if elected, support Pelosi for Speaker of the House.[65]

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...

Endorsements

Karen Handel
Federal officials
U.S. Cabinet and Cabinet-level officials
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
Governors
Statewide elected officials
Local officeholders
  • D.C. Aiken, former Alpharetta councilmember
  • JoAnn Birrell, Cobb County commissioner
  • Nancy Diamond, Roswell councilmember
  • Steve Dorvee, former Roswell councilmember
  • Chuck Eaton, public service commissioner
  • Joe Gebbia, Brookhaven councilmember
  • Jim Gilvin, Alpharetta councilmember
  • Ashley Jenkins, former Sandy Springs councilmember
  • Randall Johnson, former Johns Creek councilmember
  • Mike Kenn, former Fulton County commission chair
  • Arthur Lepchas, former Alpharetta mayor
  • Joe Lockwood, Milton mayor
  • Joe Longoria, Milton councilmember
  • Bill Lusk, Milton councilmember
  • Bates Mattison, Brookhaven mayor pro tem
  • Karen Meinzen-McEnerny, former Sandy Springs councilmember
  • Dan Merkel, Alpharetta councilmember
  • Terry Nall, Dunwoody councilmember
  • Bob Ott, Cobb County commissioner
  • Chris Owens, Alpharetta mayor pro tem
  • Rusty Paul, Mayor of Sandy Springs, Georgia
  • Michelle Penkara, member of the Tucker, Georgia City Council
  • Donna Pittman, Mayor of Doraville, Georgia
  • Kristen Riley, former Roswell councilmember
  • Jim Still, Mayor of Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia
  • Pam Tallmadge, Dunwoody councilmember
  • Karen Thurman, Milton councilmember
  • Honey Van De Kreke, Tucker councilmember
  • Rebecca Chase Williams, former Mayor of Brookhaven
  • Becky Wynn, Roswell councilmember
Former candidates
Organizations

NRA Political Victory Fund.[76][77]

Jon Ossoff
Federal politicians
Statewide politicians
Celebrities
Organizations
Websites

Debates

Complete video of first debate, June 8, 2017.

Polling

Averages

More information Model, Ossoff ...

Polls

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Hypothetical polling
with Bob Gray
with Judson Hill
with Dan Moody

Results

On June 20, 2017, Ossoff was defeated by Handel, 51.87% to 48.13%. Following reports of the election results, The New York Times characterized the race as "demoralizing for Democrats".[117] This was as close as a Democrat had come to winning this district since it assumed its current configuration as a northern suburban district in 1992; previously, Democratic challengers had only won more than 40 percent of the vote twice.[118] Handel later lost re-election to a full term on November 6, 2018, to Democratic challenger Lucy McBath, making her the first Democrat to represent the district in its present form. Ossoff later unseated Republican U.S. Senator David Perdue in a 2021 runoff election.

More information Party, Candidate ...

County results

More information Karen Handel Republican, Jon Ossoff Democrat ...

See also


References

  1. Bolton, Ben (February 10, 2017). "Gov. Deal calls for special election following Price confirmation". Fox 5 Atlanta. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  2. "Here are the candidates eyeing Tom Price's House seat". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 29, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  3. Barrow, Bill (February 14, 2017). "Georgia special election shapes up as referendum on Trump". Associated Press.
  4. Cillizza, Chris (May 9, 2017). "The Georgia special election is now the most expensive House race ever". CNN. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  5. Bland, Scott (June 17, 2017). "Early-vote turnout soars in Georgia special election". Politico.
  6. Sack, Lawton (February 14, 2017). "Fifteen Candidates Qualify for GA-6 Through Two Days". GeorgiaPol.com. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  7. Bluestein, Greg (January 13, 2017). "Cobb economist seeks to be first Muslim Republican in Congress". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  8. Catts, Everett (February 13, 2017). "8 qualify on Day 1 for special election to fill Price's post". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  9. Williams, Dave (February 1, 2017). "John's Creek businessman seeking congressional seat". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  10. Bluestein, Greg (February 15, 2017). "Karen Handel vows to fight the 'status quo' in 6th District bid". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  11. "Judson Hill becomes first Republican to enter race to replace Tom Price". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 30, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  12. Bluestein, Greg (February 14, 2017). "Trump diversity chief is running for Georgia's 6th district". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  13. Bluestein, Greg (February 15, 2017). "Who is in the race to replace Tom Price in Georgia's 6th District". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  14. Bluestein, Greg (February 13, 2017). "A Republican enters Georgia's 6th District race with key support". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  15. Bluestein, Greg (February 10, 2017). "The fight over Tom Price's seat could be a referendum on Trump". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  16. Ruch, John (December 19, 2016). "Sandy Springs Republican joins Congressional race". Reporter Newspapers. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  17. Catts, Everett (February 11, 2017). "Qualifying for special election to fill Price's seat starts Feb. 13". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  18. "John Albers passes on U.S. House bid to replace Tom Price | Political Insider". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 13, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  19. Bluestein, Greg (January 9, 2017). "The Republican field to replace Tom Price is narrowing". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  20. Bluestein, Greg (December 8, 2016). "A mysterious robo-call touts John Isakson Jr. for Congress". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  21. "Democrat drops out of race for Tom Price's seat, endorses rival". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 17, 2017. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  22. Wingfield, Kyle (January 9, 2017). "Chuck Martin says he's not running for Tom Price's seat in Congress". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  23. Ruch, John (January 5, 2017). "Sandy Springs Mayor Paul won't run for Congress; still considering re-election campaign". Reporter Newspapers. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  24. Bluestein, Greg (January 5, 2017). "A Democrat with a pile of cash commitments announces for Tom Price's seat". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  25. "Ron Slotin to Seek Price's Seat". The Atlanta Jewish Times. December 14, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  26. Bluestein, Greg (December 15, 2016). "Democrat hopes to clear the field in race to replace Tom Price". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  27. "Former Democratic state rep. chastised for denouncing gay candidate | Political Insider". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 19, 2016. Archived from the original on January 29, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  28. Pathé, Simone (November 29, 2016). "Special Election to Replace Price Could Present Opportunity for Georgia Democrats". Roll Call. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  29. Richards, Jon (November 30, 2016). "A Libertarian Jumps in the Race for Tom Price's Seat". GeorgiaPol.com. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  30. Dixon, Kristal (January 18, 2017). "Dunwoody Resident to Run For Congress". Patch.com. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  31. Dave Wasserman (April 14, 2017). "GA-06: Four Days Until the Primary". Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  32. "David Abroms for Congress". Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  33. Hagen, Lisa (March 14, 2017). "Club for Growth endorses Trump-aligned candidate in GA special election". The Hill. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  34. Richards, Jon (December 15, 2016). "Newt Gingrich Endorses Judson Hill". GeorgiaPol.com. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  35. "Exclusive: Weekend poll shows Gray may take the lead in CD-6". Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  36. "FOX 5 Atlanta/Opinion Savvy" (PDF). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  37. "ZPolitics/Clout Research (R)". Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  38. Betty Price 10%, Brandon Beach 4%
  39. "Election Night Reporting". Georgia Secretary of State. April 18, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  40. Eric Bradner. "Ossoff falls just short in Georgia special election". CNN. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  41. "Unofficial Results". Georgia Secretary of State. Atlanta, Georgia. April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  42. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  43. Parlapiano, Alicia; Shorey, Rachel (June 20, 2017). "Who Financed the Georgia Sixth, the Most Expensive House Election Ever". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  44. Bradner, Eric (June 22, 2017). "Trump and Republicans Don't Want Pelosi To Go". www.politico.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  45. Dave Wasserman (April 19, 2017). "GA-06: Still a Toss Up as Ossoff and Handel Advance to Runoff". Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  46. "Almost a Must-Win for Democrats in Georgia 6". The Rothenberg Political Report. June 12, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  47. "Photos from Karen Handel's post". M.facebook.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  48. "Ga.'s congressional Republicans circle the wagons around Karen Handel". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. April 21, 2017. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  49. Adhiti Bandlamudi (May 30, 2017). "Montana's Greg Gianforte Fundraises For Karen Handel". News.wabe.org. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  50. "US Chamber endorses Karen Handel in special election". The Charlotte Observer. April 25, 2017. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  51. "NRA Endorses Karen Handel in Georgia's 6th District Special Election". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. May 10, 2017. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is proud to endorse Karen Handel in the special election for U.S. House of Representatives in Georgia's 6th Congressional District. Based on her strong support for the Second Amendment, Handel has earned an "A" rating from the NRA-PVF.
  52. "Is Karen Handel afraid to be seen with Teump at the NRA convention in Atlanta this week". The Daily Kos. April 25, 2017. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  53. Vladimirov, Nikita (April 15, 2017). "Former Obama official campaigns for Dem in Georgia special election". The Hill. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  54. "DNC chair on Georgia race: 'We have a lot of wind at our back'". CNN. April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  55. Bluestein, Greg (February 9, 2017). "Democrat aiming for Tom Price's seat picks up key supporter". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  56. Williams, Ross (March 22, 2017). "Gov. Barnes endorses Jon Ossoff for Congress". The Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  57. "Jason Kander and Jon Ossoff Launch Voter Registration Drive – Jon Ossoff for Congress". May 4, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  58. Fantano, Anthony [@theneedledrop] (June 8, 2017). "😂😂Atlanta has to go out and vote😂😂 Karen Handel: "I do not support a livable wage"" (Tweet). Retrieved September 9, 2018 via Twitter.
  59. "DFA backs Jon Ossoff in Georgia's 6th Congressional District". Democracy for America. March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  60. "Endorses Jon Ossoff for Congress". End Citizens United. February 22, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  61. NJDC (April 14, 2017). "Jewish Democrat, Jon Ossoff, Needs Your Help to #FlipThe6th". Njdc.org. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  62. "Home". Pride Fund to End Gun Violence.
  63. Nir, David (January 26, 2017). "Flip this seat! Special election to replace Trump's anti-Obamacare health chief is huge opportunity". Daily Kos. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  64. "Georgia's 6th congressional district election is tomorrow. Here is our final forecast". www.pluralvote.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  65. "Our Campaigns – Container Detail Page". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017.

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