WASHINGTON — Three Democrats still hoping to join Virginia’s House of Delegates and end a long-standing GOP majority filed for recounts this week.
The candidates in the 40th District in Fairfax and Prince William counties and the 94th District in Newport News are entitled to the recounts under Virginia law due to the tight margins. Democrats Donte Tanner and Shelly Simonds, of the 40th District and 94th District respectively, filed for recounts on Wednesday. In the 40th District, the margin is 106 votes, and in the 94th District the margin is 10 votes.
A third race in Stafford County and Fredericksburg, where the margin is 82 votes, was only certified by the State Board of Elections this week after delays due to concerns over incorrect ballots cast there. In the 28th District, 147 voters were given ballots for the wrong House Disrict. Democrat Joshua Cole has filed for a recount on Friday.
If none of the recounts or other election challenges change any results, Republicans would control the House of Delegates 51-49.
The recounts are governed by a three-judge panel, which sets the rules and the timelines.
Establishing the requirements, physically recounting the ballots cast and certifying the final tally can take about two weeks.
This article was updated on Dec. 1, 2017 to add new information.
WTOP’s Nahal Amouzadeh contributed to this report.
