The special election to fill a vacant House district in Georgia could be the most expensive race of its kind in history as Democrats and Republicans scramble for an early advantage in the battle for control of Congress.
Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel are squaring off in a June 20 runoff to succeed Tom Price, who retired to become Health and Human Services Secretary. A combined nearly $20 million was spent in the open primary, money that continued to pour in as the votes were tallied on Tuesday.
The 2018 midterms are more than 18 months away. But suburban Atlanta's conservative-leaning 6th District has become ground zero for Republicans seeking to hold their majorities and Democrats looking to weaken President Trump.
"This is all hands on deck for the Republican Party," said a GOP operative who is active in the race, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The 6th District is the kind of seat Democrats have to win to put a dent in the Republican majority. The upscale, college-educated, mostly white enclave has voted Republican since 1978, but supported Trump over Hillary Clinton in November by only 1.5 percentage points.
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05.15.2025