A special election to determine the member of the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
for
Georgia's 6th congressional district
Georgia's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. , it is represented by Democrat Lucy McBath. The Georgia 6th district's boundaries were redrawn following the 2020 census to be significantly more ...
was held on April 18, 2017, with a runoff held two months later on June 20. Republican
Karen Handel
Karen Christine Handel (née Walker; born April 18, 1962) is an American businesswoman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, Handel served as chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners from 2003 to 2006, as Secretary of State ...
narrowly defeated Democrat
Jon Ossoff
Thomas Jonathan Ossoff ( ; born February 16, 1987) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from Georgia since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Ossoff was previously a documentary filmmaker and investigativ ...
in the runoff vote, 51.8% to 48.2%. Handel succeeded
Tom Price, who resigned from the seat following his confirmation as
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
The United States secretary of health and human services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all health matters. The secretary is ...
in the
Trump Administration
Donald Trump's tenure as the 45th president of the United States began with his inauguration on January 20, 2017, and ended on January 20, 2021. Trump, a Republican from New York City, took office following his Electoral College victory ...
. The runoff election was necessary when no individual candidate earned the majority of votes in the election on April 18. Ossoff received 48.1% of the vote in the first round, followed by Handel with 19.8%.
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
's state law requires the
Governor of Georgia to call for a special election to be held at least 30 days after a vacancy. Following Price's resignation, Governor
Nathan Deal
John Nathan Deal (born August 25, 1942) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 82nd governor of Georgia from 2011 to 2019. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party in 1992 a ...
called for the special election to be held on April 18, with a filing window for prospective candidates from February 13 to 15, 2017. All candidates ran on one ballot, with a
runoff election scheduled for the first- and second-place finishers, if no candidate received 50% of the vote.
Neither Ossoff nor Handel received a majority, and despite the Democratic Ossoff's finishing nearly 30 points ahead in the first round, Republican Handel nonetheless prevailed in the runoff election, though she would ultimately lose reelection in
2018
File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...
to Democrat
Lucy McBath
Lucia Kay McBath ( née Holman; born June 1, 1960) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Georgia's 6th congressional district. The district, once represented by Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, include ...
. Ossoff would later go on to be elected a
United States Senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
, defeating incumbent
David Perdue
David Alfred Perdue Jr. (; born December 10, 1949) is an American politician and business executive who served as a United States senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Perdue was an unsuccessful candidate fo ...
in the
2021 runoff election, becoming the first Jewish senator from Georgia, the first millennial elected to the Senate, and the youngest Democratic Senator elected since
Joe Biden in
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using mean solar tim ...
.
The election attracted exceptional national interest, with both major parties perceiving it as an opportunity to shape the political narrative prior to the
2018 midterm elections
The 2018 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. These midterm elections occurred during Republican Donald Trump's term. Democrats made a net gain of 41 seats in the United States House of Representatives, gaining a majo ...
. The district has a history of favoring
GOP
The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP ("Grand Old Party"), is one of the Two-party system, two Major party, major contemporary political parties in the United States. The GOP was founded in 1854 by Abolitionism in the United Stat ...
House candidates by large margins, but Trump won it by just 1% in 2016, making Democrats hopeful to win a normally strong GOP district. A total of $50 million was spent as of the close of early-voting period on June 17, making it the most expensive House election in history.
Of that, more than $40 million was spent on television and radio advertising alone, smashing past House election records. A very high number of voters—140,000—cast ballots during the runoff-election early-voting period.
Candidates
Republican Party
Declared
*David Abroms, businessman
*Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan, economist
* Keith Grawert, former
USAF
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
pilot
*Bob Gray, businessman and
Johns Creek
Johns Creek is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population was 82,453. The city is a northeastern suburb of Atlanta.
History
In the early 19th century, the Johns Creek area was dotted with ...
City council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...
man
*
Karen Handel
Karen Christine Handel (née Walker; born April 18, 1962) is an American businesswoman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, Handel served as chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners from 2003 to 2006, as Secretary of State ...
, former
Secretary of State of Georgia
The Secretary of State of the U.S. state of Georgia is an elected official with a wide variety of responsibilities, including supervising elections and maintaining public records.
The office has had a four-year term since 1946. Before 1880, th ...
, candidate for
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
in
2010, and candidate for the
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
in
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
*
Judson Hill, former
State Senator
*
Bruce LeVell, businessman
*
Amy Kremer, tea party activist
* William Llop, certified public accountant and candidate for
GA-11 in
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...
and
2016
File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...
*
Dan Moody, former state senator
* Kurt Wilson, businessman
Withdrew
*Donnie Bolena, candidate for Mayor of
Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia and an inner ring suburb of Atlanta. The city's population was 108,080 at the 2020 census, making it Georgia's seventh-largest city. It is the site of several corporate headquarters, i ...
in 2009
* S.M. Abu Zahed, aviation engineer
Declined
*
John Albers, state senator
*
Brandon Beach, state senator
* John Isakson Jr., real estate developer and son of U.S. Senator
Johnny Isakson
John Hardy Isakson (December 28, 1944 – December 19, 2021) was an American businessman and politician who served as a United States senator from Georgia from 2005 to 2019 as a member of the Republican Party. He represented in the United States ...
*Cade Joiner, small business owner
*
Jan Jones,
State Representative
*Chuck Martin, state representative
*
Rusty Paul
Russell K. Paul (born June 23, 1952) is an American politician serving as the mayor of Sandy Springs, Georgia since 2014.
Early life and education
Paul was born in 1952, and grew up in the Birmingham, Alabama area. He received a Bachelor’s de ...
, Mayor of
Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia and an inner ring suburb of Atlanta. The city's population was 108,080 at the 2020 census, making it Georgia's seventh-largest city. It is the site of several corporate headquarters, i ...
, former state senator and former chairman of the
Georgia Republican Party
*
Betty Price, state representative and wife of Tom Price
*Kelly Stewart, former
Johns Creek
Johns Creek is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population was 82,453. The city is a northeastern suburb of Atlanta.
History
In the early 19th century, the Johns Creek area was dotted with ...
City council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...
woman
Democratic Party
Declared
*Ragin Edwards, sales senior manager
*Richard Keatley, college professor and former officer in the Navy
*
Jon Ossoff
Thomas Jonathan Ossoff ( ; born February 16, 1987) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from Georgia since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Ossoff was previously a documentary filmmaker and investigativ ...
, filmmaker, media executive, investigative journalist, former congressional aide
*Rebecca Quigg, physician
*
Ron Slotin, former state senator and candidate for
GA-04 in
1996
Withdrew
*
Sally Harrell, former state representative (endorsed Jon Ossoff)
* Josh McLaurin, attorney (endorsed Jon Ossoff)
Declined
*
Taylor Bennett, former state representative
*
Scott Holcomb, state representative
*
Rob Teilhet, former state representative and candidate for attorney general in
2010
Libertarian Party
Declined
*Chase Oliver
Independent
Declared
* Alexander Hernandez
* Andre Pollard, computer systems engineer
Withdrew
* Joseph Pond, plumber
Special election
Predictions
Endorsements
Polling
Results
Runoff
On April 18, 2017, no candidate received 50% of the vote in the
blanket primary ("jungle primary").
Ossoff led with about 48.1% of the vote, Republican candidate
Karen Handel
Karen Christine Handel (née Walker; born April 18, 1962) is an American businesswoman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, Handel served as chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners from 2003 to 2006, as Secretary of State ...
received 19.8%, and the remainder of votes were scattered for 16 other candidates.
Because no candidate secured an absolute majority, the top two-vote-getters, Ossoff and Handel, competed in a
runoff election on June 20, 2017.
Ossoff won all but 1% of the Democratic vote, while the Republican vote was more heavily split. Republicans collectively won 51.2% of the overall vote.
Ossoff broke national fundraising records for a
U.S. House
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
candidate. In total, Ossoff's campaign raised more than $23 million, two-thirds of which was contributed by small-dollar donors nationwide. Ossoff's opponent,
Karen Handel
Karen Christine Handel (née Walker; born April 18, 1962) is an American businesswoman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, Handel served as chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners from 2003 to 2006, as Secretary of State ...
, and national Republican groups attacked Ossoff for raising significant small-dollar contributions from outside of Georgia, although Handel's campaign received the bulk of its support from super PACs and other outside groups, including those funded anonymously by so-called "
dark money
In the politics of the United States, dark money refers to spending to influence elections where the source of the money is not disclosed to voters. In the United States, some types of nonprofit organizations may spend money on campaigns wi ...
". Combined spending by the campaigns and outside groups on their behalf added up to over $55 million, which was the most expensive House Congressional election in U.S. history. During the campaign, Republican strategy focused on connecting Ossoff to House Democratic Leader
Nancy Pelosi, a polarizing and unpopular figure; Ossoff declined to say whether he would, if elected, support Pelosi for
Speaker of the House.
Predictions
Endorsements
Debates
Complete video of first debate June 8, 2017.
Polling
Averages
Polls
;with Bob Gray
;with Judson Hill
;with Dan Moody
Results
On June 20, 2017, Ossoff was defeated by Handel, 51.87% to 48.13%. Following reports of the election results, ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' characterized the race as "demoralizing for Democrats". This was as close as a Democrat had come to winning this district since it assumed its current configuration as a northern suburban district in 1992; previously, Democratic challengers had only won more than 40 percent of the vote twice.
Handel later lost re-election to a full term on November 6, 2018, to Democratic challenger
Lucy McBath
Lucia Kay McBath ( née Holman; born June 1, 1960) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Georgia's 6th congressional district. The district, once represented by Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, include ...
, making her the first Democrat to represent the district in its present form. Ossoff would later run for Senate in
2020–21 where he would successfully unseat then-incumbent Republican
David Perdue
David Alfred Perdue Jr. (; born December 10, 1949) is an American politician and business executive who served as a United States senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Perdue was an unsuccessful candidate fo ...
.
County results
See also
*
*
References
External links
;Campaign websites
Karen Handel (R) for CongressJon Ossoff (D) for Congress
{{2017 United States elections
Georgia 2017 06
Georgia 2017 06
2017 06 Special
Georgia 06 Special
United States House of Representatives 06 Special
United States House of Representatives 2017 06
April 2017 events in the United States
June 2017 events in the United States