US Republic Karen Handel avoids upset in key congrssional election in Georgia

Republican Karen Handel has won a keenly watched congressional election in Georgia and thanked President Donald Trump after avoiding an upset that would have rocked Washington ahead of mid-term elections next year.

Returns showed Ms Handel, a former Georgia secretary of state, winning about 52% of the vote over Democrat Jon Ossoff, who won nearly 48% in Georgia's 6th Congressional District.