Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories in a series of online videos, has won a US House seat representing northwest Georgia.
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Her candidacy was bolstered by President Donald Trump, who has called her a "future Republican star".
Greene was heavily favoured in the conservative district even before Democratic challenger Kevin Van Ausdal suddenly dropped out in September, saying he was moving out of state.
Greene is a businesswoman and political newcomer who has gained large followings on social media in part by posting incendiary videos and comments.
Greene has claimed in online videos that black and Hispanic men are being held back by "gangs and dealing drugs", alleged an "Islamic invasion" of government offices and accused Jewish billionaire George Soros of collaborating with Nazis.
She has also embraced QAnon, a far-right US conspiracy theory centred on the debunked belief that Trump is fighting a secret campaign against "deep state" enemies and a child sex trafficking ring of satanic pedophiles and cannibals.
In more recent videos and posts, she has attacked everything from the Black Lives Matter movement to the use of face masks to protect against the coronavirus.
After some of her comments came to light, Greene was condemned by some future House colleagues within her own party but many other Republicans including Trump embraced her.
Greene initially started campaigning for Georgia's 6th Congressional District, made up of suburbs north of Atlanta, then switched to the more conservative 14th District after Republican Tom Graves announced he was not seeking re-election.
Democrats were not able to replace Van Ausdal on the ballot because he dropped out too close to the election, leaving Greene essentially unopposed in the race.
Australian Associated Press
