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Karen Christine Handel (
née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...
Walker; born April 18, 1962) is an American businesswoman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, Handel served as chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners from 2003 to 2006, as Secretary of State of Georgia from 2007 to 2010, and in the
U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
from 2017 to 2019. In 2010, Handel ran for
Governor of Georgia The governor of Georgia is the head of government of Georgia and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor also has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either veto or approve bills passed by the Georgia Legis ...
but narrowly lost the Republican primary to Nathan Deal, who attacked Handel as overly supportive of
gay rights Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality. Notably, , ...
and
abortion rights Abortion-rights movements, also referred to as Pro-choice (term), pro-choice movements, advocate for the right to have Abortion law, legal access to induced abortion services including elective abortion. They seek to represent and support wome ...
. In 2011, Handel was appointed Senior Vice President of public policy at
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Susan G. Komen (formerly known as Susan G. Komen for the Cure; originally as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; often simply as Komen) is a breast cancer organization in the United States. Komen focuses on patient navigation and advo ...
, a charity focused on fighting
breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a ...
. Handel pushed the charity to cut off Komen's funding for breast-cancer screening at Planned Parenthood, reportedly because of her personal anti-abortion views. In the ensuing uproar over politicization of the charity, Handel resigned from Komen in February 2012. In 2017, Handel became the first Republican woman from Georgia elected to
Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
after winning a
special election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...
to fill a vacancy in
Georgia's 6th congressional district Georgia's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. , it is represented by Democrat Lucy McBath. The Georgia 6th district's boundaries were redrawn following the 2020 census to be significantly more ...
. In the 2018 general election, Handel narrowly lost her seat to Democrat
Lucy McBath Lucia Kay McBath (née Holman; born June 1, 1960) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Georgia's 6th congressional district. The district, once represented by Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, includes ...
. On November 3, 2020, Handel lost to McBath in a rematch, earning a lower percentage of the vote than she did in 2018.


Early life and education

Handel was born Karen Christine Walker in Washington, D. C., on April 18, 1962, and grew up in
Upper Marlboro, Maryland Upper Marlboro, officially the Town of Upper Marlboro, is the seat of Prince George's County, Maryland. Aso of the 2020 census, the population was 652. although Greater Upper Marlboro is many times larger. Etymology Upper Marlboro was estab ...
. After graduating in May 1980 from Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, Handel attended both
Prince George's Community College Prince George's Community College (PGCC) is a public community college in Largo in Prince George's County, Maryland. The college serves Prince George's County and surrounding areas, including Washington, D.C. History Founded in 1958, Prince G ...
, in
Largo, Maryland Largo, located within greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,605 at the 2020 census. Largo is located just east of the ...
, and the University of Maryland, University College, in
Adelphi, Maryland Adelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Per the 2020 Census, the population was 16,823. Adelphi includes the following subdivisions; Adelphi, Adelphi Park, Adelphi Hills, Ad ...
, but did not earn a degree. She then went to work for
Hallmark Cards Hallmark Cards, Inc. is a private, family-owned United States, American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce Hall, Hallmark is the oldest and largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the co ...
. Later, she served as deputy chief of staff to Vice President
Dan Quayle James Danforth Quayle (; born February 4, 1947) is an American politician who served as the 44th vice president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 under President George H. W. Bush. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republic ...
's wife, Marilyn, where she worked to promote
breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a ...
awareness and research. Handel worked at several major companies, including the global eye-care company
Ciba Vision Novartis AG is a Swiss-American multinational pharmaceutical corporation based in Basel, Switzerland and Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States (global research).name="novartis.com">https://www.novartis.com/research-development/research-loc ...
and the international accounting firm
KPMG KPMG International Limited (or simply KPMG) is a multinational corporation, multinational professional services network, and one of the Big Four accounting firms, Big Four accounting organizations. Headquartered in Amstelveen, Netherlands, alth ...
. She served as president and CEO of the Greater Fulton County
Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ...
. From December 2002 to November 2003, Handel served as deputy chief of staff to Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, where she worked as a policy advisor and supervised constituent services, the Governor's Mansion, and general administration services.


Career


Early career

In November 2003, Handel was elected chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in a special election to replace Mike Kenn, receiving 58% of the popular vote, and continued to serve in that role until 2006. She had run for commissioner unsuccessfully in November 2002, while serving as the president and CEO of North Fulton County Chamber of Commerce. Handel chose not to run for re-election as the chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, in order to run for Georgia Secretary of State.


Secretary of State of Georgia

In August 2006, Handel won the Republican
primary election Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...
for Secretary of State of Georgia, defeating
state Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...
Bill Stephens of Canton. Handel received 56.6% of the vote, to Stephens' 42.4%. In the November 2006 general election, Handel defeated Democratic nominee Gail Buckner, receiving 54.1% of the vote, to Buckner's 41.8%. Handel was the first elected Republican secretary of state in Georgia history. She served as Georgia Secretary of State from 2007 to 2010. Soon after taking office as Georgia Secretary of State, Handel began a project to purge voter rolls.Abbie Boudreau & Scott Bronstein
Some voters 'purged' from voter rolls
CNN Special Investigations Unit (October 26, 2008).
The procedure involved matching data with information in various sources, such as the Georgia Department of Driver Services database or the Social Security Administration database.CANVASS States and Election Reform® A Newsletter for Legislatures"
NCSL, December 2009.
Some eligible voters were told that they were "non-citizens", although, in fact, they were citizens. Voter suppression allegations were raised, and the rule became the subject of a federal lawsuit by the
ACLU The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States". ...
of Georgia and
MALDEF The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is a national non-profit civil rights organization formed in 1968 by Jack Greenberg to protect the rights of Latinos in the United States."MALDEF" entry in ''Los Angeles A to Z: An ...
, which accused Handel's office of engaging in a "systematic purging procedure" expressly barred by federal law within 90 days of elections."Justice Department Knocks Down Georgia Rule Requiring Voters Prove Citizenship"
Fox News, June 2, 2009.
In 2009, the
United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is the institution within the federal government responsible for enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, and national origin. Th ...
(DOJ) ordered a halt to the state's "voter verification" effort (denying it approval under the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the civil rights moveme ...
), determining that "thousands of citizens who are in fact eligible to vote under Georgia law have been flagged", and that the program was "flawed ... ndfrequently subjects a disproportionate number of African-American, Asian, and/or Hispanic voters to additional and, more importantly, erroneous burdens on the right to register to vote". This marked the first time since the 1990s that the Justice Department had denied approval to a change in Georgia election practice. Handel defended her program, asserting that it was appropriate and necessary. A federal judge in Atlanta later dismissed a lawsuit that had accused Handel's successor, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, of illegally bumping Georgia voters off the state's rolls ahead of the 2016 presidential election. In the 21-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. said that the state had taken a "reasonable and non-discriminatory" approach in trying to reach voters who had not cast a ballot within the past 7 years to confirm their addresses.


2010 gubernatorial election

In March 2009, Handel announced her decision to run for Georgia governor. Handel resigned as Secretary of State in December 2009 in order to focus on her campaign for governor full-time. Handel received the endorsement of former Republican 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate
Sarah Palin Sarah Louise Palin (; Heath; born February 11, 1964) is an American politician, commentator, author, and reality television personality who served as the ninth governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009. She was the 2008 R ...
, as well as former Republican presidential candidate
Mitt Romney Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American politician, businessman, and lawyer serving as the junior United States senator from Utah since January 2019, succeeding Orrin Hatch. He served as the 70th governor of Massachusett ...
. On July 20, 2010, Handel received 34% of the vote in the Republican Party primary election, and former Congressman Nathan Deal received 23%. Since neither candidate received a majority, they faced off in the Republican gubernatorial run-off on August 10, 2010. The primary campaign was particularly heated; Deal attacked Handel as insufficiently anti-abortion and his allies portrayed Handel as a "barren woman", claiming that her infertility rendered her untrustworthy on reproductive-rights issues. Deal also attacked Handel for her past association with the gay-rights group
Log Cabin Republicans The Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) is an organization within the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party which advocates for equal rights for LGBT in the United States, LGBT+ Americans. History Log Cabin Republicans was founded in 1977 ...
, given staunch opposition to gay rights among Republican voters. Handel falsely denied membership with Log Cabin Republicans and accused Deal of "bigoted remarks", but lost the run-off election to Deal by 50.2% to 49.8%, with about 2,500 votes separating them out of nearly 580,000 cast. She declined to request a recount, and conceded to Deal the next day.


Susan G. Komen Foundation

In April 2011, Handel was hired as senior vice president of public policy at the
breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a ...
charity Charity may refer to: Giving * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing * C ...
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Susan G. Komen (formerly known as Susan G. Komen for the Cure; originally as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; often simply as Komen) is a breast cancer organization in the United States. Komen focuses on patient navigation and advo ...
("Komen"). In this position, she was responsible for leading the organization's federal and state advocacy efforts, including management of Advocacy Alliance. At the end of January 2012, Komen stated it would cut ties with Planned Parenthood, the largest single provider of abortion services in the U.S. The organization attributed the decision to a newly adopted policy not to fund organizations under investigation by a government agency. Republicans in Congress initiated an investigation into Planned Parenthood's alleged usage of federal funds to finance the organization's abortion services. On February 2, 2012,
Jeffrey Goldberg Jeffrey Mark Goldberg (born September 22, 1965) is an American journalist and editor-in-chief of ''The Atlantic'' magazine. During his nine years at ''The Atlantic'' prior to becoming editor, Goldberg became known for his coverage of foreign affa ...
reported in ''
The Atlantic ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher. It features articles in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 1857 in Boston, ...
'' that "three sources with direct knowledge of the Komen decision-making process told me that the rule was adopted in order to create an excuse to cut-off Planned Parenthood". Goldberg further reported that his anonymous sources indicated that the decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood was driven by Handel, who opposes abortion. On February 5, 2012, ''
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American Liberalism, progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original c ...
'' reported that "e-mails between Komen leadership ... confirm Handel's sole 'authority' in crafting and implementing the Planned Parenthood policy... Handel submitted the new grant criteria to Komen leadership in November, and the board approved it in December, at which point Komen's top public health official resigned 'on the spot'." Four days after the decision to cut ties with Planned Parenthood, Komen reversed the decision and announced that it would amend the policy to "make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature, and not political". A few days later, on February 7, 2012, Handel resigned from Komen. The ''Los Angeles Times'' described Komen's decision to cut ties with Planned Parenthood as "one of the great PR faux pas of the decade", with Komen losing 22% of its funding in the subsequent fiscal year. Komen officials also attributed much of the lost funding to the decision to cut ties with Planned Parenthood.


Memoir

On September 11, 2012, Handel published a book, ''Planned Bullyhood'', about her tenure as vice president of public policy at Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In the book, Handel defended Komen's short-lived decision to end grants to Planned Parenthood. She refers to Planned Parenthood as "a blatantly partisan" group of "bullies" that began a war with Komen over $700,000, an amount of money "inconsequential" to its $1 billion budget.


2014 Senate election

On May 17, 2013, Handel announced that she would be a candidate for the United States Senate. Incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss did not seek re-election. Handel was endorsed by former
Governor of Alaska A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Sarah Palin Sarah Louise Palin (; Heath; born February 11, 1964) is an American politician, commentator, author, and reality television personality who served as the ninth governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009. She was the 2008 R ...
in March 2014. One of her 2014 opponents,
David Perdue David Alfred Perdue Jr. (; born December 10, 1949) is an American politician and business executive who served as a United States senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Perdue was an unsuccessful candidate f ...
, criticized her for not having a college degree. Julianne Thompson, co-chair of the Atlanta Tea Party, replied to the charge by saying: "One of the most important things we look for in a leader is that person's ability to identify with the citizens they intend to govern." In May 2014, Handel came in third in the Republican Senate primary, with 21.96% of the vote; she failed to qualify for the run-off election.


U.S. House of Representatives


Elections


2017

In February 2017, Handel announced a run for
U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
in the 2017 special election, to fill a vacancy in
Georgia's 6th congressional district Georgia's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. , it is represented by Democrat Lucy McBath. The Georgia 6th district's boundaries were redrawn following the 2020 census to be significantly more ...
, against Democratic candidate
Jon Ossoff Thomas Jonathan Ossoff ( ; born February 16, 1987) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from Georgia since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Ossoff was previously a documentary filmmaker and investigative ...
. Former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss endorsed Handel. During the April 18, 2017, primary, Handel was the top Republican vote-getter in the 6th District race. No candidate reached a majority of the vote, leading to a run-off election on June 20, 2017. Handel finished second in the
jungle primary A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for the same elected office run against each other at once, regardless of the political party. Partisan elections are, on the other hand, segregated by political party. ...
, and faced Ossoff in the run-off. Ossoff received 48.1% of the vote, and Handel received 19.8% of the vote.
U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
congratulated her on advancing to the run-off, and she welcomed his support. According to ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'', during the primary, Handel avoided mentioning Trump, but embraced him in the general election. She said that she would welcome Trump if he wanted to campaign with her. Handel and Trump held a fund-raiser in April 2017. Speaker of the House
Paul Ryan Paul Davis Ryan (born January 29, 1970) is an American former politician who served as the 54th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was the vice presidential nominee ...
campaigned for Handel, saying, "We need someone who is tested and true", and Handel was endorsed by the
United States Chamber of Commerce The United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) is the largest lobbying group in the United States, representing over three million businesses and organizations. The group was founded in April 1912 out of local chambers of commerce at the urging ...
,
Susan B. Anthony List Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America (formerly Susan B. Anthony List) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization that seeks to reduce and ultimately end abortion in the U.S. by supporting anti-abortion politicians, primarily women, through its SBA List ...
, National Right to Life Committee, and the National Rifle Association. On June 15, 2017, Handel's home was the target of a "suspicious package" containing a "white powdery substance" and a threatening letter. Several of Handel's neighbors received similar suspicious packages in the mail. Handel stated, "It is frustrating that my neighbors have been affected in this way. Steve and I know that running for public office often brings these kinds of challenges, but our neighbors did not sign up for this." The
FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...
was called in to investigate. The race received significant national attention, after being highly touted as an early test of how the first few months of Donald Trump's presidency may have shifted the opinions or voter enthusiasm of suburban voters who live in swing districts. Combined spending by both candidates' campaigns reached over $55 million, which was the most expensive US Congressional race until the 2020 SC Senate race and GA Senate Runoff races reached $73 million and $106 million respectively. On June 20, 2017, Handel won the special election run-off, and defeated Ossoff 51.87% to 48.13%. Following reports of the election results, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' characterized the race as "demoralizing for Democrats".


2018

Handel ran for a full term in 2018 and was unopposed in the Republican primary. In the May 22 Democratic primary, gun control activist
Lucy McBath Lucia Kay McBath (née Holman; born June 1, 1960) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Georgia's 6th congressional district. The district, once represented by Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, includes ...
defeated Kevin Abel, Steven Knight Griffin, and Bobby Kaple. In the general election, Handel lost to McBath by less than 4,000 votes.


2020

Handel challenged McBath in the 2020 election. On May 22, 2020, President Trump endorsed her candidacy. Handel won the Republican nomination on June 9, 2020, with nearly 75% of the vote. She lost to McBath. Her former opponent, Jon Ossoff, whom she defeated in 2017 for the vacancy in
Georgia's 6th congressional district Georgia's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. , it is represented by Democrat Lucy McBath. The Georgia 6th district's boundaries were redrawn following the 2020 census to be significantly more ...
, went on to win a Georgia Senate seat in 2020 with the help of Stacey Abrams' organizing efforts to register 800,000 new voters.


Tenure

Handel was sworn into office on June 26, 2017. She became Georgia's first Republican congresswoman. On June 22, 2018, Handel, while presiding over the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ca ...
, cited House Rule XVII in an attempt to stop California Representative
Ted Lieu Ted W. Lieu (; born March 29, 1969) is an American politician and Air Force Reserve Command colonel who has represented California's 33rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2015. The district includes much of weste ...
from playing audio previously published by
ProPublica ProPublica (), legally Pro Publica, Inc., is a nonprofit organization based in New York City. In 2010, it became the first online news source to win a Pulitzer Prize, for a piece written by one of its journalists''The Guardian'', April 13, 2010P ...
that recorded the voices of children and infants separated from their parents under the
Trump administration family separation policy The United States family separation policy under the Trump administration was presented to the public as a "zero tolerance" approach intended to deter illegal immigration and to encourage tougher legislation. In some cases, families followi ...
. The rule cited reads, "A person on the floor of the House may not smoke or use a mobile electronic device that impairs decorum." She was ranked by The Lugar Center as the 320th most bi-partisan member of the House during the 115th Congress.


Committee assignments

* Committee on Education and the Workforce ** Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education ** Subcommittee on Workforce Protections * Committee on the Judiciary ** Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Anti-Trust Law ** Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice *
Republican Study Committee The Republican Study Committee (RSC) is a study group of conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives. As of 2021, the Chairman of the RSC is Representative Jim Banks of Indiana. Although the prima ...


Political positions

In 2014, Handel described herself as an "unwavering conservative fighter", rather than a "go-along-to-get-along" Republican. In the campaign for the 2014 Senate seat, she said that she would be a Senator in the mold of
Ted Cruz Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz (; born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States Senator from Texas since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz served as Solicitor General of Texas fro ...
, and called on
Mitch McConnell Addison Mitchell McConnell III (born February 20, 1942) is an American politician and retired attorney serving as the senior United States senator from Kentucky and the Senate minority leader since 2021. Currently in his seventh term, McConne ...
to resign from the Republican leadership of the Senate. In 2014, ''
Politico ''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American, German-owned political journalism newspaper company based in Arlington County, Virginia, that covers politics and policy in the United States and inter ...
'' described her as "a Palin-style conservative".


President Donald Trump

During the
115th Congress The 115th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States of America federal government, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 2017, to January 3 ...
, Handel's votes aligned with President
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
’s preferred positions 98.4% of the time, according to political reporting website
FiveThirtyEight ''FiveThirtyEight'', sometimes rendered as ''538'', is an American website that focuses on opinion poll analysis, politics, economics, and sports blogging in the United States. The website, which takes its name from the number of electors in th ...
's online tracker. She deviated from Trump's position when she voted for a 2017 bill imposing sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea; the bill was opposed by Trump (though he later signed it into law), but it passed the House 419–3. Handel voiced support for Trump's May 9, 2017, firing of FBI Director
James Comey James Brien Comey Jr. (; born December 14, 1960) is an American lawyer who was the seventh director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2013 until his dismissal in May 2017. Comey was a registered Republican for most of his adul ...
, stating, "it's been clear for some time that FBI Director Comey has lost the confidence of Republicans, Democrats, and broader institutions, and his removal as FBI Director was probably overdue". Regarding reports that Trump had disclosed classified information to Russia, Handel said that such reports represented "potentially a gross assumption" by the press, stating, "we have investigations underway... I would suggest that all of us would let the process play out, and let the facts take us where the facts take us." In June 2017, she said that she was troubled by some of Trump's proposed cuts to federal research funds. She has also criticized Trump's use of
Twitter Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
. In May 2018, Handel voiced her support for the Special Counsel investigation, but added: "Do it expeditiously. Do it fairly and justly, and move it along."


Environment

Handel has said that the federal government's role in combating climate change should be "limited so that state and local government lead the way". She supported Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the
Paris Climate Agreement The Paris Agreement (french: Accord de Paris), often referred to as the Paris Accords or the Paris Climate Accords, is an international treaty on climate change. Adopted in 2015, the agreement covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and ...
. Asked if she accepted the
scientific consensus on climate change There is a strong scientific consensus that the Earth is warming and that this warming is mainly caused by human activities. This consensus is supported by various studies of scientists' opinions and by position statements of scientific org ...
, Handel said, "Clearly, there have been changes in the climate", but did not say whether human activities contribute to climate change.


Health care

Handel favored repealing the
Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a landmark U.S. federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by Pres ...
(Obamacare). She had expressed support for Tom Price's legislation to replace Obamacare. She supported the May 2017 version of the
American Health Care Act The American Health Care Act of 2017 (often shortened to the AHCA or nicknamed Trumpcare) was a bill in the 115th United States Congress. The bill, which was passed by the United States House of Representatives but not by the United States ...
, the Republican Party's replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act. In a June 2017 debate, she stated that she would never support a bill that reduced protections for pre-existing conditions, and said that the AHCA did no such thing, while
CNN CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by t ...
noted that independent fact-checkers have found that the May 2017 version of AHCA would reduce protections for pre-existing conditions. Handel said, "I reject the premise of CBO", referring to the
Congressional Budget Office The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides budget and economic information to Congress. Inspired by California's Legislative Analyst's Office that manages ...
estimate that 23 million more Americans would be uninsured if the May 2017 version of AHCA were to become law.


Voter identification requirements

Handel supports laws that require Americans to show photo identification before voting.


Economic issues

In a June 2017 debate, Handel stated that she opposed a minimum wage, saying, "This is an example of a fundamental difference between a liberal and a conservative. I do not support a livable wage." Handel stated, "The private sector creates good paying jobs when we have a robust economy, with lower taxes and less regulation." Handel has described the tax system as comprising "onerous, punitive regulations, costly red tape, and a complex tax structure, with rates that are too high, are limiting business expansion and job growth". Handel voted in favor of the
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 The Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018, , is a congressional revenue act of the United States originally introduced in Congress as the Tax Cuts and Jobs A ...
. She called the passing of the bill a "historic moment", and said that the bill would be "transformative for hard-working American families and American companies, especially our small businesses". She said that "hard-working Americans" will "keep more of their money". She also said that the bill would enable small businesses to "innovate and grow".


Immigration

Handel opposed the bi-partisan Senate "Gang of Eight" bill, which would have provided a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. She opposes an automatic path to citizenship, saying, "These immigrants have come to our country and blatantly disregarded our laws. We cannot, we should not reward that. No amnesty. No ability to vote." She supports building a
wall A wall is a structure and a surface that defines an area; carries a load; provides security, shelter, or soundproofing; or, is decorative. There are many kinds of walls, including: * Walls in buildings that form a fundamental part of the super ...
along the US-Mexico border. Her campaign website stated: "True national security means securing our borders... The current immigration system is broken, and we MUST fix it."


Abortion

Handel opposes
abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of preg ...
, and favors eliminating government funding for Planned Parenthood. She wrote a book, ''Planned Bullyhood: The Truth Behind the Headlines about the Planned Parenthood Funding Battle with Susan G. Komen for the Cure'', about the subject. She also opposes
embryonic stem cell Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage pre- implantation embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consis ...
research. In 2018, Handel received a 0% score from
NARAL Pro-Choice America NARAL Pro-Choice America, commonly known as simply NARAL ( ), is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization in the United States that engages in lobbying, political action, and advocacy efforts to oppose restrictions on abortion, to expand access to ...
for her voting record on abortion-related issues. She received a 100% score from the National Right to Life Committee, an anti-abortion organization.


LGBT rights

Handel opposes same-sex marriage and same-sex civil unions. She voted against legislation that would have given domestic partner benefits. She opposes the adoption of children by gay individuals, stating that it "is not the best household for a child". The
Human Rights Campaign The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an American LGBTQ advocacy group. It is the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization within the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for LGBT ...
gave Handel a 0% score for her record relating to LGBT rights issues during the 115th Congress.


Gun policy

Handel received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association, as well as their endorsement, in 2017. She supported Georgia's "campus carry" law which allows people to bring guns onto the campuses of state universities. When she ran for governor in 2010, her campaign circulated a photo of her using a rifle during a visit to an arms plant in Columbus, Georgia.


Post-politics career

Following her defeat to return to the U.S. House of Representatives, Handel was hired as the president and CEO of Carroll Tomorrow, the economic development organization for Carroll County, a county of 120,000 people west of metro Atlanta.


Personal life

Handel is married to Steve Handel, and resides in
Roswell, Georgia Roswell is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia, United States. At the official 2010 census, the city had a population of 88,346. The 2020 estimated population was 94,884, making Roswell the state's ninth largest city. A close suburb of Atla ...
.


Electoral history


See also

*
Women in the United States House of Representatives Women have served in the United States House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber, since the 1916 election of Republican Jeannette Rankin from Montana, the first woman i ...


References


External links

* * * , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Handel, Karen 1962 births 2004 United States presidential electors 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American businesswomen 21st-century American politicians 21st-century American women politicians Candidates in the 2010 United States elections Candidates in the 2014 United States elections Fulton County commissioners Female members of the United States House of Representatives Living people People from Roswell, Georgia People from Upper Marlboro, Maryland Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia (U.S. state) Secretaries of State of Georgia (U.S. state) Women in Georgia (U.S. state) politics Candidates in the 2020 United States elections