Thursday, January 4, 2018

VIRGINIA - GOP HOLD A 51-49 MAJORITY IN HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Submitted by: Terry Payne


https://www.cbsnews.com/news/virginia-election-results-lottery-drawing-house-of-
delegates-david-yancy-winner-virginia-house-seat/


CBS NEWS

By EMILY TILLETT CBS NEWS January 4, 2018, 1:17 PM

Virginia election results 2017: Republican David Yancey wins Virginia House seat
Last Updated Jan 4, 2018 1:17 PM EST

After a tie-breaking name drawing by Virginia State Board of Elections
officials, Republican David Yancey has officially been declared the winner in
the 94th Virginia House of Delegates District seat in Newport News.
Yancey, the incumbent, maintains his seat in the House of Delegates after an
unconventional end to the Virginia race. Republicans now hold a 51-49 majority
in the state House.

Chairman of the Virginia Department of Elections hold up a film canister
containing the name of Republican House incumbent David Yancey during a random
drawing to determine the winner of the 94th House of Delegates District Seat in
Richmond, Virginia, U.S., January 4, 2018.

Election officials on Thursday, in accordance with state law, determined the
winner of the tie "by lot" by drawing the winning name from a film canister
which was placed inside a decorative blue bowl.
A second name was pulled and read aloud to prove the drawing fairly included
both names of candidates. The bowl, crafted by local Virginia artist Steven
Glass, was lent to board officials by the Museum of Fine Arts for the special
occasion.
The same practice has been used by board members to set the order in which
parties are listed on statewide ballots.
In 1971, Virginia drew names from a large silver cup to settle a tied House race
in Fairfax County.
Yancey was not present for Thursday's name-drawing due to the inclement weather
in the region but Simmonds was present to witness the declaration.
State election officials had initially postponed their plan to break the tie and
James Alcorn, chairman of the State Board of Elections said that drawing names
would be an "action of last resort."
Initially, Simonds appeared to have lost November's election
<https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crucial-virginia-election-deciding-drawing-postpon
ed-shelly-simonds-david-yancey/
>  by 10 votes. Then she appeared to have won a
recount by a single vote in December. A day later, a court in Newport News
declared a tie.
According to the Associated Press, Simonds addressed the media present at the
name-drawing, calling the results a "sad conclusion" and added that at the
moment, "all options are still on the table." Simonds, who could potentially ask
for another recount, neglected to officially concede to Yancey on Thursday.

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Emily Tillett
Emily Tillett is a politics reporter and video editor for CBS News Digital

Terry Payne

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