The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff, Wire Reports
Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 07:31 PM
Republican Lawmaker Says Time To Pick Winner In Bitterly Contested Race That Will Decide Balance Of Power In VA House Of Delegates
A Republican lawmaker says it's time to
pick the winner in a bitterly contested race that could decide the
balance of power in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Lawyers for Del. David Yancey on Friday urged elections officials to
schedule a random drawing of the winner's name no later than Jan. 9, the
day before the legislature reconvenes.
Yancey's lawyers argued that a recount court has already reviewed a
single disputed ballot and found it was cast for Yancey. They urged
state election officials to deny Democrat Shelly Simonds' motion for
reconsideration.
Simonds won a recount by a single vote. The next day, a recount court
declared a tie based on the disputed ballot.
If Simonds wins, the partisan split will be 50-50. If Yancey wins,
Republicans will have a 51-49 majority.
