Georgia Republican Handel thanks Trump for calling

Karen Handel, the Republican candidate who secured second place in Georgia’s special congressional election on Tuesday, thanked President Trump for supporting her during the primary.

“.@realDonaldTrump thank you for the call this morning,” Handel tweeted on Wednesday.

.@realDonaldTrump thank you for the call this morning. #ga6

— Karen Handel (@karenhandel) April 19, 2017

The Republican candidate received almost 20 percent of the vote on Tuesday in a primary to fill the House seat vacated by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. 

{mosads}She will now compete in a June runoff election with Democrat Jon Ossoff, who failed to get over 50 percent of the vote to win the contest outright. 

“He just called to say congratulations and encouraged me and let me know that as we go into June 20th that … it’s all hands on deck for Republicans,” Handel said in an interview with CNN.

“We take it very seriously, and I am proud to be the Republican going to the runoff,” she added. 

Trump on Tuesday encouraged the Republicans in Georgia to “vote no” on Ossoff, who he said would be “a disaster in Congress.”

“Democrat Jon Ossoff would be a disaster in Congress. VERY weak on crime and illegal immigration, bad for jobs and wants higher taxes. Say NO,” the president tweeted.

“Republicans must get out today and VOTE in Georgia 6. Force runoff and easy win! Dem Ossoff will raise your taxes-very bad on crime & 2nd A.”