State Sen. R. Edward Houck conceded defeat Thursday to Republican Bryce Reeves. Houck made the decision not to pursue a recount when Reeves picked up four more votes, bringing his lead to 225. Election night the lead was 86, and at that time a recount seemed likely. That lead widened, however, when a keying error was discovered in Culpeper, and the results from Louisa County only reinforced Reeves’ lead. “The chances of the recount changing 225 votes were very, very remote,” Houck said following his decision.
With Houck’s defeat, Virginia Senate numbers stand at 20-20, with Republicans in control of the tiebreaking vote. Democratic hopes for maintaining power were slim, with a Republican Governor and majority in the House.
