A surge of women signed up to challenge Georgia incumbents who had rarely, if ever, faced opponents or to contest seats left vacant by a wave of retirements.

The bonanza of candidates, most of them Democrats, who qualified to run for state office was a vivid display of the party's enthusiasm and another test of possible backlash to President Donald Trump.

Melita Easters, founder of the pro-choice WIN List, said it was an "unprecedented" show of force from women.