Update: Karen Handel Sworn In To Congress

EAST COBB, GA -- After a tough election battle for Georgia's 6th District, Republican Karen Handel was sworn in Monday evening. The event marked the first time a female Republican from Georgia made it to Congress.

Handel was congratulated for the feat by Speaker Paul Ryan, who had the privilege of swearing her in. "Join me in welcoming the newest members of the House of Representatives, Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia & Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina," Ryan said on Twitter.

Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana also gave Handel and other new lawmakers a shoutout via Twitter, saying, "Congrats to Greg Gianforte, Ralph Norman & Karen Handel on becoming the newest members of the House!"

Handel defeated Democrat and first-time candidate Jon Ossoff in the runoff election last week in a campaign that was closely watched by Washington's elite, including President Donald Trump, who promoted the race on Twitter and visited Georgia to raise funds for her campaign.

The 6th District campaign became the most expensive House race in U.S. history, topping $50 million in overall spending and putting Georgia on the minds of voters across the country. (To get notified of more local news like this, click here to sign up for the East Cobb Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Handel said that her aim is to go right to work on the issues that matter to her constituents.

"I remain humbled by this extraordinary privilege to serve the citizens of Georgia’s Sixth District, and I look forward to getting right to work for them this week," she said in a statement.

Handel joins a Congress in a morass over the nation's health care. The Senate's controversial health care bill is up for a vote in the coming days, with a handful of GOP lawmakers coming out against the legislation.

Image via Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press