Georgia's 6th District House seat may serve a compact portion of the north Atlanta suburbs, but national issues are likely to dominate the first head-to-head debate between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff Tuesday.

The duo will meet in primetime on WSB-TV. It's the first of two confirmed faceoffs between Ossoff and Handel as early voting continues ahead of Election Day on June 20.

A bad performance for either could prove to be a stumbling block in a three-county district where tens of millions are being spent to capture the attention of voters. More than $36 million has been spent on the race so far, according to a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis, making the contest the most expensive in the history of the U.S. House.

Tuesday's debate will give Handel and Ossoff their first real opportunity to connect with a general audience beyond the 30- or 60-second increments of their radio and television ads.

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Known as a dogged investigator, Ashleigh Merchant made a name for herself in Cobb County’s tight-knit legal community by taking big swings. (Natrice Miller/AJC)