Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Collins has been re-elected to his seat in northeast Georgia.

How it happened: The Republican incumbent won handily against Democratic challenger and newcomer Josh McCall. With 60 percent of precincts reporting, Collins had 81.3 percent of the vote.

What it means: That gives Collins, 52, of Gainesville, a fourth term since 2013 when he first won the seat that represents parts of northeast Forsyth County and the northeast corner of the state, and it helps Republicans in a midterm in which the party is hoping to stave off a Democratic takeover of the House in Congress.