Democrat Shelly Simonds won the Virginia House of Delegates seat in a recount by one vote, according to Politico, giving the party a rare 50-50 split for control of the state legislature starting in January.
Simonds seized the seat in Virginia's 94th House District from Republican incumbent David Yancey and her victory will head to a judicial panel Wednesday for certification. Of the 23,866 votes cast in the Newport News district on Election Day, Simonds only held a 10-vote lead ahead of the recount.
"I knew it was going to be a roller coaster ride and the counts were going to change and votes were going to shift around. but I had faith in the system and final outcome," Simonds told The Washington Post. "This is part of a huge wave election in Virginia where voters came out in record numbers to force a change in Virginia, and I'm really proud to be part of that change and part of that wave election."
The win could help Democrats pass Medicaid expansion in 2018.
"We are one vote closer to expanding Medicaid and extending access to affordable healthcare to nearly 400,000 people," House Democratic leader David Toscano said. "Let's get this done."
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