RantCrush Top 5: June 20, 2017

Today a special election is being held in Georgia. Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff are running to become the next representative for the state’s sixth congressional district. The seat became available when Tom Price was appointed as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

This election is seen as a test for how Republicans are doing in the White House and in Congress. The district has been red for a long time, but last year, Donald Trump won by a much smaller margin than in years past. This showdown has become the most expensive House campaign in U.S. history, and the polls have shown an extremely tight race so far. Handel will focus on Ossoff’s youth–he is only 30–and lack of experience, while Ossoff will attempt to capitalize on Trump’s unpopularity to carry him to victory.

Recently, Republicans controversially used last week’s shooting at a GOP congressional baseball practice in an ad attacking Ossoff. The ad shows footage from the attack and a voiceover says, “The same unhinged leftists cheering last week’s shooting are all backing Jon Ossoff, and if he wins, they win.” Handel’s team denounced the ad but did not request that it be taken off the air.

Georgia GOP official: Shooting will win us the special election https://t.co/CAbwBqqX4q pic.twitter.com/6Nl8TWmYG3

— The Hill (@thehill) June 20, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.