sandy spring ga. georgia republican karen handel expensive congressional race history tuesday avoid democratic upset race widely see referendum president donald trump margin 52 percent 48 percent former georgia secretary state defeat democrat jon ossoff political newcomer seek wrest control suburban atlanta district elect republicans congress since 1970s election significantly change balance power washington republicans control white house chamber congress could give republicans boost confidence struggle advance health tax legislation bogged infighting investigations whether trump campaign collude russia last year presidential election handel say victory rally know go require hand deck republicans hold district tonight stand extraordinarily humble honor tremendous privilege high responsibility ... give handel tell boisterous crowd chant trump name ossoff handel try focus local issue avoid mention trump whose approval rat sit 37 percent accord reuters/ipsos poll stop trump weigh twitter urge voters support handel election celebrate victory afterward fantastic job proud post tuesday night spend race reach least 57 million nearly twice previous record accord center responsive politics watchdog group special election hold fill seat vacate tom price trump appoint secretary u.s. department health human service democrats celebrate fact turn conservative stronghold competitive district show world place one think even possible could fight could fight ossoff tell supporters defeat sure prompt soul-searching party shut power washington steadily lose influence state level recent years despite spend 30 million ossoff lose district wide margin democrat hillary clinton 2016 presidential election democrats also lose special election neighbor south carolina tuesday republican ralph norman easily prevail democrat archie parnell seat formerly hold republican mick mulvaney serve trump budget director democrats congressional elections year early lose race fill vacant seat kansas montana fake news money spend trump write twitter republicans meanwhile breathe sigh relief knowledge still win kind affluent educate district often favor democrats even president divide voters party agree 100 percent god believe country best interest heart say jessica podalsky vote handel tuesday morning republican avoid upset costly georgia congressional race