In Tied Race, GOP Urges Court to Reject Democrat's Lawsuit

Republican leaders fired back Friday against Democrat Shelly Simonds' efforts to be declared the winner in a tied Newport News-area House of Delegates race, urging the recount court to reject Simonds' appeals for a new decision and asking state officials to proceed to a planned tiebreaker "as soon as possible."

Lawyers for Republican Del. David E. Yancey are expected to file legal paperwork Friday arguing that the three-judge panel that oversaw the 94th District recount made no errors and there's no evidence to support Simonds' contention that the court should not have reviewed a disputed ballot late in the process and counted it for Yancey. 

Yancey's lawyers also sent a letter to the State Board of Elections asking for the postponed tiebreaker to be held no later than Jan. 9, one day before the General Assembly reconvenes in Richmond.