As expected Democrats have asked for recounts in two House of Delegate districts.
In the 94th district, Republican incumbent David Yancey of Newport News leads Democrat Shelly Simonds by only 10 votes. Republican Delegate Tim Hugo (R-Fairfax) leads Donte Tanner by 106 votes in the 40th district. From the Washington Post:
After candidates petition for a recount, a judge has seven days to hold a preliminary hearing. Recounts are overseen by a panel including the chief judge of the local circuit court and two judges appointed by the chief justice of the Virginia Supreme Court.
Under Virginia state law, taxpayers pay for the cost of recounts for races where the winning margin is smaller than half of a percentage point. Campaigns still bear the costs of legal fees.
Democrats have not yet filed for a recount in the 28th district although Republican Bob Thomas leads by only 82 votes. We previously wrote about what may happen next in that district.
The current count for the new House of Delegates is 51-49. (Prior to the election Republicans dominated the House by 66 to 34.) If the Democrats win two seats in these recounts, they will gain control of the body for the first time since 2000.
