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Karen Handel
| Karen Handel | ||
 | ||
| Georgia Secretary of State | ||
| Former officeholder | ||
| In office | ||
| 2006-2010 | ||
| Party | Republican | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
Contents |
Handel is a Republican candidate for the open U.S. Senate seat in Georgia in 2014.[1][2]
She officially announced her candidacy in the U.S. Senate elections in Georgia in 2014 on May 17, 2013.[2]
Handel previously announced her candidacy for the state's 2010 gubernatorial race in March 2009. [3] Undoubtedly due to potential ethical questions regarding her role as chief election official while simultaneously running for the governorship, Handel announced in late-December 2009 that she would resign as Secretary of State. [4] Despite placing first in the state's primary election on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, she fell about roughly 2,500 votes short in securing the party nomination three weeks later. In her concession speech the night of the primary run-off election, Handel endorsed her opponent, Nathan Deal, in the race against former governor Roy Barnes. [5]
Political career
Handel served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice President Dan Quayle's wife, Marilyn, in 1989 promoting breast cancer awareness. It was during this time that initiatives like October becoming National Breast Cancer Month, the National Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was established, federal funding for breast cancer research was increased, and the Office of Research on Women's Health was established at the National Institute of Health.
She served as President and CEO of the Greater Fulton County Chamber of Commerce, where she was directly responsible for working with state, local, national and international organizations to bring job growth to north Fulton County. During her tenure, Handel discovered that the GNDC Chamber was near fiscal insolvency after an employee was found to have embezzled nearly all of the chamber's funds, and successfully managed the once-troubled organization through financial turbulence
In 2002, she was named Deputy Chief of Staff in the administration of Governor Sonny Perdue, where she served as a policy advisor and supervisor of constituent services, the Governor's Mansion, and general administration services.
Handel was elected by the public in a special election held in November 2003 to replace Mike Kenn as Chairman of the Fulton County Commission. She received both state and national media attention for exposing corruption within the sheriff's department that, in turn, led to the incumbent sheriff's resignation. It was also during her tenure that she was able to pass the strongest county government ethic policies in the state.
Campaign contributions
2006
| 2006 Race for Secretary of State - Campaign Contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Raised | $1,163,650 | |||
| Total Raised by Primary Opponent | $946,640 | |||
| Total Raised by Gen. Election Opponent | $463,700 | |||
| Top 5 Contributors | George Berkow Inc. $13,000 (1.12% of Total) | |||
| David Shafer Senate Committee. $12,000 (1.03%) | ||||
| The Loose Group $10,000 (0.86%) | ||||
| Roberts Properties Residential $10,000 (0.86%) | ||||
| Fourth Quarter Properties XII $10,000 (0.86%) | ||||
| Individuals v. Institutions | $621,693 (53.4%) | |||
| $427,970 (36.8%) | ||||
| In v. Outside State | $1,107,903 (95.2%) | |||
| $55,747 (4.8%) | ||||
Elections
2014
Handel is a Republican candidate for the open U.S. Senate seat in Georgia in 2014.[1][6] She officially announced her candidacy in the election in 2014 on May 17, 2013.[2]
2010
- See also: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2010
| 2010 Race for Governor - Republican Primary [7] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
 Karen Handel (R)
|
34.1% [8] | |||
| Nathan Deal (R) | 22.9% | |||
| Eric Johnson (R) | 20.1% | |||
| John W. Oxendine (R) | 16.9% | |||
| Jeff Chapman (R) | 3.0% | |||
| Ray McBerry (R) | 2.5% | |||
| Otis Putnam (R) | 0.4% | |||
| Total votes | 678,880 | |||
| 2010 Race for Governor - Republican Primary [9] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
| Nathan Deal (R)
|
50.2% | |||
| Karen Handel (R) | 49.8% | |||
| Total votes | 578,673 | |||
2006
| State Government |
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| State executive officials |
| State legislatures |
| Elections |
| 2012 • 2011 • 2010 |
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| 2006 Race for Secretary of State - Republican Primary [10] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
| Karen Handel (R)
|
43.6% [11] | |||
| Bill Stephens (R) | 32.6% | |||
| Charlie Bailey (R) | 13.8% | |||
| Eric Martin (R) | 10.0% | |||
| Total votes | 368,439 | |||
| 2006 Race for Secretary of State - Republican Primary Run-Off [12] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
| Karen Handel (R)
|
56.6% | |||
| Bill Stephens (R) | 43.4% | |||
| Total votes | 171,129 | |||
| 2006 Race for Secretary of State - General Election [13] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
| Karen Handel (R)
|
54.1% | |||
| Gail Buckner (D) | 41.8% | |||
| Kevin Madsen (Libertarian) | 4.1% | |||
| Total votes | 2,063,298 | |||
See also
External links
- Summary, biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions at Follow The Money
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Profile at Facebook
- Profile at Twitter
- Profile at Wikipedia
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Washington Post "Kingston joins Republican Senate field in Georgia" Accessed May 2, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Huffington Post "Karen Handel Senate" Accessed May 17, 2013
- ↑ Fresh Loaf "Karen Handel enters governor’s race" 27 March, 2009
- ↑ Red State "Karen Handel Aims to Win the GOP Gubernatorial Nomination in Georgia" 22 Dec. 2009
- ↑ USA Today "Karen Handel concedes in close Ga. governor’s race" 11 Aug. 2010
- ↑ Atlanta Journal Constitution "Jack Kingston declares for U.S. Senate -- and Karen Handel says, 'Don't forget me'" Accessed May 2, 2013
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 Primary Election Results
- ↑ Even though Karen Handel received the most votes, she failed to receive over fifty percent of those votes required by Georgia state law. A run-off election between the top two vote recipients, therefore, was required to decide who went on to the general election.
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State - 2010 Primary Run-off Election Results
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State - 2006 Republican Primary Election Results
- ↑ Even though Karen Handel received the most votes, she failed to receive over fifty percent of those votes required by Georgia state law. A run-off election between the top two vote recipients, therefore, was required to decide who went on to the general election.
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State - 2006 Republican Primary Run-Off Election Results
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State - 2006 General Election Results
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cathy Cox |
Georgia Secretary of State 2007–2010 |
Succeeded by Brian Kemp |
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