Polls Close in Most Expensive House Race in US History

Jon Ossoff and Karen Handel face off in Georgia
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 20, 2017 6:43 PM CDT
Polls Close in Most Expensive House Race in US History
Karen Handel, Republican candidate for Congress, talks to the press Tuesday, June 20, 2017, after she voted in the 6th District Special Election at St Mary's Orthodox Church in Roswell, Ga.   (Bob Andres)

Most polls have closed in Georgia for a special congressional election that offers a potential preview of the 2018 midterm elections, the AP reports. A few precincts remained open Tuesday evening after a rain-soaked day in metro Atlanta. Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff are expected to have a tight finish in the area's traditionally conservative northern suburbs. Ossoff wants an upset that would rattle Washington ahead of next year's elections. A Republican has represented Georgia's 6th Congressional District since 1979. Turnout could exceed 250,000 votes, an impressive total for a special election, and it's already the most expensive House race in US history.

Very early results had Handel ahead of Ossoff 51.5% to 48.5%. But FiveThirtyEight warns against reading too much into early vote tallies, as Ossoff is expected to do much better with people who cast their ballots before election day. Those votes will be added later. (More Jon Ossoff stories.)

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