Democrat and gun control activist Lucy McBath won her race in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, defeating Republican incumbent Rep. Karen Handel.
Though McBath claimed victory Wednesday, Handel didn’t concede until Thursday morning.
“After carefully reviewing all of the election results, it is clear that I came up a bit short on Tuesday,” Handel tweeted. “Congratulations to Representative-Elect Lucy McBath & I send her only good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her.”
Handel was first elected in the summer 2017 during a special election against well-funded Democrat Jon Ossoff to fill Tom Price’s empty seat after Price was tapped to serve as secretary of health and human services. Price resigned from his post last year. Georgia’s 6th District has long been held by Republicans, including Price and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
McBath, who lost a son in 2012 to gun violence during a dispute at a gas station, noted Wednesday that the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., in February motivated her to run for office.
“The voters responded to my commitment to put aside partisan fights for the good of the American people,” McBath said in a statement. “Six years ago, I went from a Marietta mom to a mother on a mission. After my son was lost to gun violence, I stood up and started demanding more. After Parkland, I was compelled to enter this race for Congress — to provide leadership that would be about the business of putting lives over profit. I vow to make that my top priority.”
