Democrat in surprise lead

– A Democrat came close to outright victory in Tuesday’s closely watched US congressional primary in Georgia, heading to a run-off in a race which Democrats tout as an early test of resistance to President Donald Trump.

Jon Ossoff, 30, finished first in a crowded field of candidates in a traditionally conservative 6th district, but fell short of surpassing the all-important 50% threshold.

With 88% of the vote counted, Ossoff was well ahead with 48.3% support. The nearest Republican – former secretary of state Karen Handel – was at just 19.7%, with US media projecting a run-off.

Winning the June 20 run-off will be a steeper challenge for Ossoff, however, as Handel will almost certainly benefit from her party coalescing around a single candidate in a conservative-leaning district.

But Ossoff, a documentary filmmaker and former congressional aide, told energised supporters just before midnight that he and Democrats “shattered expectations” with their performance.

“There is no doubt that this is already a victory for the ages. No matter what the outcome is tonight – whether we take it all or whether we fight on – we have defied the odds. We have shattered expectations,” Ossof said.

Democrats hoped he could capitalise on Trump’s lacklustre popularity and make the race a test of his first 100 days.

A shock upset in the national spotlight, the argument goes, would embarrass the president and could jumpstart efforts to retake control of the House of Representatives in next year’s midterm elections.

Georgia’s 6th district has remained a Republican fortress since 1978, when it was won by Newt Gingrich. Ossoff is running in a special election there to replace congressman Tom Price, who became Trump’s health secretary. – AFP