Va. Republican wins House race after random bowl drawing

ELIZABETH ELIZALDE

Jan 4th 2018 8:56PM

A Virginia Republican defeated his Democratic opponent Thursday in a tied House race after a controversial recount.

The Virginia State Board of Elections named Del. David Yancey the winner of the 94th District over Shelly Simonds after drawing randomly from a bowl.

Simmonds appeared to have won the race by a single vote on Dec. 19. The next day a court declared a tie after it counted a vote for Yancey.

His win now leaves the Republicans with a slim 51-49 majority in the state House.

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Virginia Democrat Shelly Simonds

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NEWPORT NEWS, VA - November 28: Republican David Yancey and Democrat Shelly Simonds attend a 'take your legislator to school day' Tuesday, November 28 at Heritage High School in Newport News, Va. Yancey leads Simonds by ten votes in the 94th District in the Virginia House of Delegates race. (Photo by Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - November 28: Democrat Shelly Simonds walks out on the pier at Riverview Farm Park Tuesday, November 28 in Newport News, Va. Expanding the park to the James River and preventing development in the area was a central campaign issue for Simonds. Republican David Yancey leads Simonds by ten votes in the 94th District in the Virginia House of Delegates race. (Photo by Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - November 28: Democrat Shelly Simonds talks to her former student, Aaron Greco, 17, during a 'take your legislator to school day' Tuesday, November 28 at Heritage High School in Newport News, Va. Republican David Yancey leads Simonds by ten votes in the 94th District in the Virginia House of Delegates race. (Photo by Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

NEWPORT NEWS, VA - November 28: Democrat Shelly Simonds talks to Cindy Li and Zhi Chao Lin at the Asian Grill next to her former campaign headquarters Tuesday, November 28 at Heritage High School in Newport News, Va. Republican David Yancey leads Simonds by ten votes in the 94th District in the Virginia House of Delegates race. (Photo by Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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Simonds and her supporters attended the drawing but were silent as Virginia State Board of Elections Chair James Alcorn read Yancey’s name as the winner.

She refused to concede and welcomed a second recount.

“This is a sad conclusion for me,” Simonds said. “All options are on the table.”

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