Tie for Virginia House race shows every vote counts

A Virginia court ruled Wednesday that there is no winner in a state legislature race. On Tuesday, Republicans appeared set to lose control of the Virginia statehouse for the first time 17 years after a recount showed Democrat Shelley Simonds earned one more vote than Republican David Yancey, 11,608 to 11,607, in a Newport News House of Delegates district. But a three-judge panel determined that a questionable ballot cast for Yancey, thrown out during the recount, was valid. On Dec. 27, officials will draw a name from a glass bowl to determine a winner. If the loser of the name draw is unhappy, he or she can ask for a second recount. Last month, vote totals showed Yancey won the race by 10 votes. Before the recount, Republicans controlled the legislature 51-49.