The Hill, 6/20/2017: “Handel returned to the stage shortly after Ossoff gave his concession speech at his own watch party, declaring victory and striking a tone of unity after a long and frequently bruising campaign. ‘To the Jon Ossoff supporters, know that my commitment they extend to every one of you, as well. We may have some different beliefs, but we are part of one community, the community of the Sixth District,’ Handel said at her Atlanta election night watch party.”

Laughing my #Ossoff

— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) June 21, 2017

“‘And I will work just as hard to earn your confidence in the weeks and months ahead. And I give every Georgian this promise. My promise is to work every single day relentlessly to make our state and there country a better place.’ Handel also went on to thank the slew of Republicans who helped her on her path to victory. She specifically called out President Trump and Vice President Pence, as the administration has deployed surrogates to help with the effort, as well as House Speaker Paul Ryan (Wis.), whose associated super PAC spent millions on her behalf. And she told the crowd about her phone call with a ‘more than gracious’ Ossoff, wishing him and his fiancee ‘all the best in the new life that they are going to be starting.'”

Epilogue: Karen Handel lost reelection twice, in 2018 and 2020 to Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA). The guy she was running to replace in the special election, HHS Secretary Tom Price resigned in September 2017 over personal use of a government plane. House Speaker Paul Ryan didn’t even run for re-election in 2018. After losing in the very first special election of the Trump presidency, Jon Ossoff is now serving as the Senior United States Senator from Georgia, having defeated Republican David Perdue in the very last special election of the Trump presidency in 2021.