WASHINGTON — Republican Del. Mark Dudenhefer was confirmed as the new Garrisonville District supervisor Tuesday after a recount of more than 5,000 ballots, according to the Stafford County registrar.
Dudenhefer chose to leave the Virginia House of Delegates after two terms to make a return bid for the Board of Supervisors. The recount determined he won by 13 votes, Dudenhefer told WTOP.
He had been certified as the winner after Election Day beating Democratic incumbent Laura Sellers by 12 votes.
During the recount, ballots that may not have properly registered a vote in that particular race are checked by hand to ensure the count reflects the intent of each voter.
Sellers is serving out her first term. She was the only Democrat on the seven-member board.
House recounts
Four separate recounts in House of Delegates races are scheduled over the next week and could determine which party controls the chamber.
The recounts begin Wednesday with the 40th District in Fairfax and Prince William counties and are scheduled to conclude next Thursday with the 28th District in Stafford County and Fredericksburg.
In the 28th District, voters have filed a federal lawsuit seeking a new election after at least 147 people cast ballots in the wrong races in the area. Democrat Joshua Cole, who trails Republican Bob Thomas by 82 votes, could also file a contest of the election asking the House to order a redo.
