Virginias House of delegates is now 50-50

[Anonymous]

Democrat from Newport News won in a recount by a single vote.

https://wtop.com/virginia/2017/12/va-house-tied-50-50-newport-news-dem-wins-seat-1-vote/

[jsteele]

You are sort of burying the lead here. The single vote that won the election for the Democrat also split the House of Delegates 50-50, effectively giving the Democrats control because Democratic Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax will break ties.

Also, the Democrat was a woman who beat a male Republican. Those pink hats are starting to have an impact.

[Anonymous]

A single vote in Newport News, Virginia, is set to give Democrats partial control of the state's House of Delegates and could help the party pass Medicaid expansion next year.

After a recount conducted Tuesday, Democrat Shelly Simonds had 11,608 votes to Republican incumbent David Yancey's 11,607 votes in Virginia's 94th House District. Simonds' apparent victory — which will head to a judicial panel on Wednesday for certification — means Democrats and Republicans will have an even 50-50 split in the House of Delegates and will have to share power when the legislature starts its next term in January.


https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/19/democrat...inia-house-of-delegates-244598

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Democrat from Newport News won in a recount by a single vote.

https://wtop.com/virginia/2017/12/va-house-tied-50-50-newport-news-dem-wins-seat-1-vote/

The democrats will count and count and count until they find the votes. Even if they are in the trunk of cars or created. We already know this.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:You are sort of burying the lead here. The single vote that won the election for the Democrat also split the House of Delegates 50-50, effectively giving the Democrats control because Democratic Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax will break ties.

Also, the Democrat was a woman who beat a male Republican. Those pink hats are starting to have an impact.

I think the Lt Gov breaks ties on the Senate-- they will have to do some sort of powershare in the House, but still denying the R's majority control of the House (while they have a one vote majority in the Senate) is huge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Democrat from Newport News won in a recount by a single vote.

https://wtop.com/virginia/2017/12/va-house-tied-50-50-newport-news-dem-wins-seat-1-vote/

The democrats will count and count and count until they find the votes. Even if they are in the trunk of cars or created. We already know this.

Care to offer some proof of what we already know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:You are sort of burying the lead here. The single vote that won the election for the Democrat also split the House of Delegates 50-50, effectively giving the Democrats control because Democratic Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax will break ties.

Also, the Democrat was a woman who beat a male Republican. Those pink hats are starting to have an impact.

I think the Lt Gov breaks ties on the Senate-- they will have to do some sort of powershare in the House, but still denying the R's majority control of the House (while they have a one vote majority in the Senate) is huge.

You are correct, Lt. Gov. breaks ties in the Senate but there's no tie-breaking mechanism in the House. The parties will have to negotiate who will chair committees and who will be Speaker for the House, positions that usually go to the majority party. I believe Republicans hold a two-vote majority in the Senate (21-19), but since they won't be able to get anything through the House without Democrat support, they'll have to either engage in actual bipartisanship or they'll be stuck in two years of gridlock.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:You are sort of burying the lead here. The single vote that won the election for the Democrat also split the House of Delegates 50-50, effectively giving the Democrats control because Democratic Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax will break ties.

Also, the Democrat was a woman who beat a male Republican. Those pink hats are starting to have an impact.

Sorry, I was on my phone and trying to make dinner. I'm a single mom (albeit in DC) and I'm thrilled that women are starting to take over Virginia!

I think PP is correct about the alt Gov being a tie breaker in the senate not the house, but it's still great that the GOP doesn't have a majority in the house.

[Anonymous]

This could impact judicial nominations.

[Anonymous]

Let this be a reminder that every vote really does count!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let this be a reminder that every vote really does count!

+1

What great news for our state!

[Anonymous]

Woot woot. Hopefully they can enact a health ins mandate to stabilize the market here.

[Anonymous]

Imagine if the Democrats had contested every seat...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Democrat from Newport News won in a recount by a single vote.

https://wtop.com/virginia/2017/12/va-house-tied-50-50-newport-news-dem-wins-seat-1-vote/

The democrats will count and count and count until they find the votes. Even if they are in the trunk of cars or created. We already know this.

riiiight.

the recounts are done legally. the margins were so small n several districts that they were automatic by state law.

There is some shady shit going down not far from us with the registrar that refused to count votes and then there was the problem with people receiving the wrong ballots for their address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine if the Democrats had contested every seat...

I thought they did? How many districts didn't have challengers?