Republican Karen Handel's victory in the House race in Georgia and GOP wins in three other special elections have given a boost to President Donald Trump's legislative agenda, The Hill reported.
Handel beat Democrat Jon Ossoff on Tuesday in a hotly contested race seen as a referendum on Trump and his policies. And Republican Ralph Norman defeated Democrat Archie Parnell on Tuesday in South Carolina for the House seat vacated by White House budget director Mick Mulvaney.
Along with earlier wins in Kansas and Montana, Republicans are enjoying a special election sweep in House races over Democrats this year, albeit in Republican hotbeds.
"It certainly boosts Republican morale," said Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, a former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP's campaign arm.
And GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois noted: "There are local reasons (why Ossoff lost). He didn't live in the district," adding, "But I think it bodes well for the president's agenda for now."
Republican lawmakers argue the wins give them added impetus for pushing through a healthcare bill, The Hill reported.
"Clearly Karen Handel defended us on (healthcare) and ran on, 'We need to get this stuff done. This is something we need to finish,'" Cole said, "so I think that's an important message from our base to our members."
And former Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Handel's victory provides the GOP with a "huge relief and somewhat of a political sedative," CNN reported.
"It says: Perhaps the approach that's being taken in Congress and by the president are more acceptable to a swing district or swing-voting parts of the country than people are predicting."
But Democrats say they are not yet ready to throw in the towel, The Hill noted.
"If you look at the numbers, these are all seats where just seven months ago (Republicans) won by double digits, and they were nail-biters after Trump takes office," said Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., co-chair of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
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