Democrat candidate in the 94th district, Shelly Simonds, has asked a three judge panel to reverse their decision to approve a ballot that sent the district into a tie. If the 94th ultimately goes to Republicans they will control the House of Delegates. If not, the House of Delegates will be tied. Some Republicans in the House have referred to that eventuality as ‘chaos’.
Before anything can happen the recount panel in Newport News which includes Newport News Circuit Judge Bryant L. Sugg, Powhatan County Circuit Judge Paul W. Cella, and Chesterfield County Circuit Judge David E. Johnson will have to decide if they are going to reverse their decision on the ballot that they accepted the day after the recount. It doesn’t seem likely they will reverse themselves, but only they can make that decision and rule on the motion filed by Shelly Simonds.
Gary Anderson, clerk of the court in Newport News Circuit Court has no idea when the judges will render a decision. The judges are working only a half a day on Friday before the long weekend for New Year’s.
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
With the Newport News court operating a half-day schedule Friday heading into the holiday weekend, Anderson said the judges might not act until next week. But he cautioned that he was only guessing.
“They may surprise me,” Anderson said.
In the meantime control of the House of Delegates hangs in the balance. The House will convene on January 10th.
