Democrat Simonds concedes tied Newport News [VA] race

WTOP News [Washington DC] ^ | January 10, 2018 11:31 am | Max Smith | @amaxsmith

[COBOL2Java]

RICHMOND — Democrat Shelly Simonds has conceded the tied 94th District race out of Newport News that was decided by a random drawing last week.

Simonds, who had suggested she might seek a second recount or contest the election, said she did not see any paths forward to challenge Republican Del. David Yancey’s re-election.

She tweeted about 45 minutes before the General Assembly convened that she was conceding with “great disappointment.”

I have conceded because I do not see any legal pathways forward and I want representation for the 94th district today.

— Shelly Simonds (@shelly_simonds) January 10, 2018

[KevinB]

I would have thrown that ballot out. If you are too stupid to fill out a ballot, you shouldn’t be allowed to vote anyway.

I believe it was thrown out, but the Yancey team challenged that in court and won. Having participated in a recount in VA a couple of years ago and been schooled in election law as it relates to ballots, I can say that the only issue is whether it can clearly be determined what the voter's intention was from the ballot. On this ballot, there was no real question. By crossing out the circle for the Dem and clearly filling in the circle for Yancey, it was easy to see that the intent was to vote for Yancey.

[KevinB]

It was only “that close” because of DIM/illegal fraud voting.

I can't disagree with that, but it's still amazing that the whole control of the House of Delegates could come down to one disputed ballot.

[pgkdan]

She agreed to have it decided by lot, and then reneged when it didn’t go her way?

She sounds like Hillary.

[granada]

The liberal-trained millenials just know had Al Gore won the election, the 9/11 would have been nipped in the bud.

[ScottinVA]

One of my coworkers lives in that district and cast a vote for Yancey. I thanked him for saving Virginia.

[COBOL2Java]

I believe it was thrown out, but the Yancey team challenged that in court and won. Having participated in a recount in VA a couple of years ago and been schooled in election law as it relates to ballots, I can say that the only issue is whether it can clearly be determined what the voter's intention was from the ballot. On this ballot, there was no real question. By crossing out the circle for the Dem and clearly filling in the circle for Yancey, it was easy to see that the intent was to vote for Yancey.

Especially considering that all the other Party-line votes on that ballot went for Republicans.

[mistfree]

YES! The legislature would have been tied if she had won the toss. Now the republicans have a one vote majority. They lost a lot in the last election.

[KevinB]

Especially considering that all the other Party-line votes on that ballot went for Republicans.

Yes, although it's interesting that the voter voted for Gillespie and then crossed it out. He probably filled in the circle, then thought, "Hey, this guy's not really a Republican. Eff him!", and crossed it back out. LOL.

[fortheDeclaration]

She couldn’t go back to the Courts, so she ‘conceded’!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks COBOL2Java. Not even a crooked governor could help.