ROSWELL, Ga. — Election returns show that Republican Karen Handel won just over 52 percent of the vote to secure a House seat in Georgia.

Handel defeated Democrat Jon Ossoff on Tuesday in Georgia’s hotly contested House race in the Atlanta suburbs. Ossoff won nearly 48 percent of the vote.

What are the factors playing into the competitive and expensive race for a House seat in Georgia? Judy Woodruff talks to Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report and Tamara Keith of NPR about the special election face-off.

Her victory comes after Republican special congressional election wins in Montana, Kansas and South Carolina.

Republicans are claiming momentum ahead of the 2018 midterms, but each race was much closer than expected for the four districts.

Those trends leave Democrats hopeful they can win a House majority next year. They need to flip 24 GOP seats.

READ MORE: Republican Handel beats Democrat Ossoff in Georgia special election