The Latest: New Georgia, South Carolina lawmakers sworn in


              Representative-elect Karen Handel, R-Ga., right, kisses her husband Steve Handel before a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, June 26, 2017. Handel, the Republican winner of the most expensive House race ever, is preparing to take her seat representing Atlanta's outskirts, along with a South Carolina Republican who claimed a narrower-than-expected victory to retain a strongly Republican seat. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Representative-elect Karen Handel, R-Ga., right, kisses her husband Steve Handel before a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, June 26, 2017. Handel, the Republican winner of the most expensive House race ever, is preparing to take her seat representing Atlanta's outskirts, along with a South Carolina Republican who claimed a narrower-than-expected victory to retain a strongly Republican seat. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on new House members (all times EDT):

7 p.m.

The winner of the most expensive House race ever as well as a South Carolina Republican who claimed a narrower-than-expected victory are now members of Congress.

Monday evening's swearing-in ceremony for Georgia Republican Karen Handel and Ralph Norman of South Carolina returns the House GOP majority to 241 seats after a string of special elections to replace lawmakers who joined President Donald Trump's Cabinet.

Handel won a closely watched Georgia election by a 52-48 margin last week after a hard-fought campaign. Handel's opponent, first-time candidate Jon Ossoff, raised $23 million for the race and narrowly led in most polls.

Norman, a staunch conservative, won a 3 percentage point victory last week in a far quieter race in a district that overwhelmingly went for Trump last year.

___

11:30 a.m.

The Republican winner of the most expensive House race ever is scheduled to take her seat representing Atlanta's outskirts on Monday, along with a South Carolina Republican who claimed a narrower-than-expected victory to retain a strongly Republican seat.

Monday evening's swearing-in ceremony would return Republicans to full strength in the chamber at 241 seats after four special elections to replace lawmakers who left the House to join President Donald Trump's Cabinet.

Karen Handel won the closely watched Georgia election by a 52-48 margin last week after a lengthy campaign. Handel's opponent, first-time candidate Jon Ossoff, raised $23 million for the race and narrowly led in most polls.

Republican Ralph Norman, a staunch conservative, won a 3-point win last week in a far quieter South Carolina race.

Upcoming Events