The race in the Sixth District, with an increasingly liberal population, had raised Democrats' hopes, but they were dashed.
Karen Handel, who will face Democrat Jon Ossoff in a June 20 runoff, sought to downplay her anti-LGBT positions in this race.
The Democrat narrowly missed the majority needed to avoid a runoff but got far more votes than any rival.
A court rules that discrimination against lesbian security guard Jameka Evans doesn't violate existing law.
"It doesn't matter whether they are black or white, Latino, Asian American or Native American, whether they are straight or gay, Muslim, Christian or Jews. We all live in the same house. The American house."
"The Doll" became famous after charming audiences in Clint Eastwood's 1997 film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Martin Blackwell was found guilty on several counts of aggravated battery and assault.
