Handel Concedes 6th District Race, Congratulates McBath

ROSWELL, GA — The incumbent Congresswoman representing Georgia's 6th Congressional District has conceded defeat in her battle for re-election. Republican U.S. Rep. Karen Handel on Thursday conceded the race to Democrat Lucy McBath, who won the Nov. 6 election with a 3,000-vote margin.

"After carefully reviewing all of the election results data, it is clear that I came up a bit short on Tuesday," Handel said. "Congratulations to Representative-Elect Lucy McBath and send her only good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her."

Handel was first elected to the seat in 2017 in a closely watched, contentions battle for the district against Democrat Jon Ossoff. She won the special election in the seat vacated by Tom Price, who briefly served as President Donald Trump's secretary for Human and Health Services before resigning due to a scandal over his use of a private jet. That special election at the time became the most expensive U.S. House race in history.

Unofficial results show McBath won the race with 159,353 votes to Rep. Karen Handel's 156,419 votes with all precincts reporting. The 6th Congressional District includes all of North Fulton County and parts of DeKalb and Cobb counties.

Handel said while Tuesday's loss was disappointing, she and her supporters have a lot they can be grateful for.

"We live in a great country," she said. "In no other nation in the world could a girl leave home at 17 – finish school on her own and then work her way up – and have the incredible opportunities that I have had."

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Handel went on to say that those circumstances allowed her to pursue her professional and personal dreams, to include serving as chair of the Fulton County Commission, becoming Georgia's secretary of state and being elected to Congress. Handel states she and her husband, Steve, will put their faith in God and "trust that whatever lies ahead will be exactly what we need."

"When I was elected last year, I promised to give you my all in representing you and the entire District," she states. "I've done my absolute best to do that – every moment of every day. While our country and hardworking families here in the 6th District and across the country are doing better, these remain challenging times with too much anger and animosity. That’s why we must all recommit ourselves to giving hope, creating opportunity, and building a better America for our fellow Americans —and to doing so with grace, humility, heart, and compassion."

A political newcomer, McBath, a Cobb County resident and advocate for gun safety, had a 30-year career with Delta Airlines before she shifted her focus to public service, her website states. She is the mother of Jordan Davis, 17, who was shot and killed outside a gas station in Florida by a man who complained the teenager was playing his music too loud. The shooter was convicted of murder and was sentenced to serve life in prison.

"The voters responded to my commitment to put aside partisan fights for the good of the American people," McBath said in her statement. She added she was looking forward to serving all families in the District.

Image via Karen Handel's campaign