Republicans hope to avoid Georgia upset and salvage their agenda

Republicans nervously await results from Georgia Tuesday, hoping to avoid a watershed upset that could derail their ambitious agenda and drive a wedge between their congressional majorities and President Trump.

Republican Karen Handel, 55, and Democrat Jon Ossoff, 30, were tied heading into Election Day, after waging a record-breaking, $50 million campaign for the 6th Congressional District. But with control of a conservative-leaning, suburban seat on the line, Republicans have more to lose.

Seats like this in metro Atlanta that have formed the backbone of GOP power for decades but where Trump is only marginally popular and struggled against Democrat Hillary Clinton last year, will determine the fate of the House majority in 2018.

A loss could complicate passage of legislation to partially repeal Obamacare, a major priority of the conservative base, and send centrist Republicans on Capitol Hill scurrying for cover from the political fallout Trump has been generating for them at home.

"If Handel loses, it'll be tougher to get our members to take tough votes," a senior Republican House aide said, on condition of anonymity in order to speak candidly.