Karen Handel: What You Need To Know

EAST COBB, GA — Republican Karen Handel emerged victorious Tuesday night in Georgia's closely watched 6th Congressional District race. Handel, a former Georgia secretary of State, was backed by the GOP's top luminaries, including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker Paul Ryan, who all visited the state to stump for her.

Here are five things to know about Handel and why she's the darling du jour for the GOP.

Handel's historic win and what it means

Handel's win Tuesday night was not just crucial for Republicans, it made history. The 55-year-old becomes the first female Republican to make it to Congress from Georgia, an accomplishment she acknowledged during her victory speech. "When all is said and done I know that it has been a great God and truly great nation that afforded a young girl the opportunity to grow up and be whatever she wanted to be. I am also very well aware of another obligation that comes with tonight's decision by the voter. The obligation of being the first Republican woman elected to Congress from the great state of Georgia," she said as the crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

How did she win the 6th District?

During the April 19 special election, Ossoff almost won outright because he faced a diluted GOP field. Eleven Republicans qualified for the race, including former state senators and city councilmen with just enough local clout to muddy alliances. The party's upper echelon rallied behind Handel, starting from the top. Trump tweeted Handel's name the morning after the April election, signaling that the full might of the GOP would be behind her the rest of the way — and they did just that.

What is her most memorable sound bite?

Voters in the district were inundated with ads about both candidates, some of them portraying obtuse opinions that run the gamut. But Handel's own words gained widespread notice weeks ago when she debated Ossoff and the topic of wages came up. This is what she said: "This is an example of the fundamental difference between a liberal and a conservative: I do not support a livable wage." The comments were taken by many to mean that she was against the common worker, but she has since clarified her statements. She said that she wanted small businesses to not be bogged down by the government red tape. "What I support is making sure that we have an economy that is robust with low taxes and less regulation," she said.

Her bid to Congress bucked a trend among establishment politicians

Seldom do politicians who have served in roles as prominent as Handel go on to be elected to represent their state at the federal level. She said Tuesday night, "I'm one of the few former county commission chairmen and few secretary of States to make it to Congress." While the feat is not unprecedented, it is not all that common. Handel chaired the Fulton County Board of Commissioners from 2004 to 2006 before being elected as Georgia's secretary of State. She had two unsuccessful runs for state office, coming up short in her bid for governor in 2010 and the state Senate in 2014.

What are Handel's views on health care?

In taking Georgia's 6th District seat, Handel's replacing Tom Price, a Roswell doctor who has gone on to be the nation's health secretary. Handel is on record as being a big proponent of the American Health Care Act, which Republican lawmakers proposed this spring. She said the health care plan, touted heavily by Trump, actually has more protections for people with preexisting conditions than Obamacare.

"The current GOP proposal working its way through the House of Representatives remains a work in progress, but it is on the right track," she says on her website. "It eliminates the individual mandate and related fines and repeals most of the taxes, including the medical device tax, and the so-called 'HIT' tax.

Despite an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll indicating that Georgians were extremely concerned about health care, Handel told Breitbart News in a recent interview, “It hasn’t been that much of an issue on the ground. For voters in the 6th District, the biggest issue is that Jon Ossoff is from outside the district.”

As Handel joins the Georgia delegation in Washington, Trump will no doubt look to her as a surrogate in exchange for the support he has given her. Only time will tell if she looks to become more moderate and looks to widen her base or joins in lockstep with the party's agenda.

Image via Handel campaign