Karen Christine Handel is an American businesswoman, politician, and outgoing member of the United States House of Representatives for Georgia's 6th congressional district. In 2017, she became the first Republican woman from Georgia elected to Congress after narrowly defeating Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff in a special election to fill Tom Price's vacancy in Georgia's 6th congressional district; this special election remains the most expensive congressional race in American history. In the 2018 election, Handel narrowly lost election to a full term to Democrat Lucy McBath.Handel previously served as the 26th Secretary of State of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Handel worked in business before entering politics. First elected in 2003, she chaired the Fulton County Board of Commissioners until 2006, and then was elected and served as Georgia's Secretary of State from 2007 to 2010.
In 2011, Handel was appointed Senior Vice President of public policy at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a charity in the cause of fighting breast cancer, and left on February 7, 2012, following the foundation's controversial decision to eliminate and then later restore funding for Planned Parenthood, an organization to which she was opposed. Handel sought a second term in the 2018 midterm elections but was defeated by Democratic challenger Lucy McBath.
✵ 18. April 1962
