Dem who lost VA House seat in random drawing concedes

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY AVERY ANAPOL - 01/10/18 11:38 AM EST

?0r

The Democratic candidate who lost a seat in Virginia’s House of Delegates in a random drawing has conceded.

Shelly Simonds, who ran to represent the state’s 94th district, lost to GOP incumbent David Yancey last week after the state’s board of elections decided the tied race by drawing names from a bowl.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Yancey won the election by 10 votes on election night in November, triggering a recount that resulted in Simonds winning by one vote. Republicans then challenged the single ballot, and a three-judge panel determined that it should count for Yancey, tying the race.

Democrats attempted to overturn the challenge, but the complaint was rejected. In accordance with state law, the race was decided “by lot” in January when officials drew names from a bowl.



Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/368299-dem-who-lost-va-house-seat-in-random-drawing-concedes

[lagomorph777]

1. Sad day for Virginians.

[FSogol]

3. Never let anyone tell you their vote doesn't matter. n/t

[lagomorph777]

7. One single voter could have flipped the whole state.

To the 94th District voter who stayed home: Next time, pal, get your ass off the sofa. You fucked us over.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

34. Not so fast. Please read this:

Can a Democrat newly famous for losing turn defeat into political gold?

People in search of a conspiracy theory need to head down to the bolded part.

Retweeted by David Fahrenthold: https://twitter.com/Fahrenthold

“It was ‘Every vote counts,’ a beautiful story, and then it morphs into a darker story — you can play tricks and a judge can decide an election" -- Shelly Simonds of VA, who sounds like she has not accepted defeat after name-drawing to break a tied race

Link to tweet

Virginia Politics

Can a Democrat newly famous for losing turn defeat into political gold?

By Paul Schwartzman January 8 at 6:07 PM

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The instant Shelly Simonds walked into an Italian restaurant near her home the other day, a booth full of diners rose from their seats to hug and console her. ... “This is one hot mess,” another diner volunteered when Simonds wandered by.

For an excruciating moment last week, Simonds was America’s most-talked-about political loser, a distinction she earned after her defeat in an electoral game of chance that was broadcast live across the country on CNN. ... Simonds, a Democrat who may still challenge the outcome, had thought she lost the race for the Virginia House of Delegates by 10 votes on election night, only to learn after a recount that she had won by a single vote. ... The astonishing turn momentarily threatened the GOP’s 18-year majority in the House of Delegates and transformed Simonds into an improbable, if fleeting, star of cable news shows.
....

Her list of what-might-have-beens includes something that has nothing to do with ceramic bowls or recounts. ... It’s the unopened cardboard box she found in her campaign headquarters days after the election. Inside were the names and addresses of hundreds of targeted voters her volunteers needed to reach on Election Day to get them to the polls.

No one from her campaign had knocked on those doors. ... With the election so close, Simonds knows that a handful of those voters could have made the difference. ... “I was stunned when I found that box,” Simonds said.
....

Paul Schwartzman specializes in political profiles and narratives about life, death and everything in between. Follow @paulschwartzman

If the people who intend to vote for you don't make it to the polls, you are already playing catch up.

[lagomorph777]

35. "a handful of those voters could have made the difference"

My point precisely.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

36. "No one from her campaign had knocked on those doors." NT

[lagomorph777]

37. Yes that too. But the ultimate responsibility is on the voter.

[AmericanActivist]

2. This is a travesty. No justice in this process. nm

[FSogol]

4. As much as I hate the outcome, I feel the judge panel did the right thing. n/t

[Justice]

30. I completely disagree. It was an overvote.

[Codeine]

19. The outcome pains me,

but I honestly believe the intent of the disputed ballot was clear and that the right choice was made.

Let’s be happy we took as many seats as we did and look forward to taking more soon.

[PoliticAverse]

5. Rec'd for exposure. n/t

[turbinetree]

6. So the next time that there is an election in this particular district and there are let's say

15 ballots that are marked the same way what are they going to do..........................and they are all marked for the democrat and the republican is cancelled out........................

And as for medicaid expansion--------------------don't hold your breath, look at what he has been doing for the last umpteen years since he has and is in office.....................

[lagomorph777]

8. Are we certain all the marks on this ballot came from the original voter?

[turbinetree]

9. Good point, the state had someone handling that ballot

-------------------and everyone knew it in that room it was invalid, it was tainted, that person should have gone right back to the election judge and said I made a mistake-------what do I do?

They have machines in that state it would have rejected the ballot-------------and they should have rejected that ballot.

It is amazing how it conveniently showed up.....................

[KPN]

10. Sad. Another stolen election really.

There is absolutely no way to justify counting a ballot that has multiple marks for the two candidates. No way to have any idea with certainty what the voter intended. The ballot that resulted in the drawing was rightly thrown out to begin with and should have been by the judge(s) who ruled to allow it as well.

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE A QUESTIONABLE CONCESSION ON THE PART OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN A CHALLENGED ELECTION? NEVER!

[Blue_Tires]

11. what a bunch of bullshit...

joke of an outcome

[SunSeeker]

12. Fuck.

Fuck Republican cheating and gerrymandering.

[bluestarone]

13. at a loss here!! Why the Hell didn't she call

for at least a RECOUNT?? We just give in all the time!! What did she have to lose?

[NurseJackie]

15. This *was* the recount. She was cheated when the spoiled ballot was included...

... she had no other legal options.

We just give in all the time!!

No we don't. It serves no good purpose to bash Democrats or Shelly Simonds.

Please... If you must bash anyone, attack the judges and officials... not our party or our candidates.

[bluestarone]

16. this was recount AFTER the name drawing?

i was under the thought that whomever lost the DRAWING, had the right to request ANOTHER recount? Also if true this was SECOND recount (which i did not see) i withdraw my statement

[BoneyardDem]

17. Nurse Jackie had it right

bashing Dems really isn't the answer to much of anything. I'm glad you withdrew your statement...too bad you don't just delete it.

[bluestarone]

18. not really! Did this take place?

Virginia statute permits the loser of the draw to petition for another recount," Green said. "In that case, the same recount procedure would happen a second time, meaning candidates would presumably have a second chance to challenge overvotes and other ballots

[BoneyardDem]

22. AHHHH, it's clear you would rather continue to bash Dems....not enough Reps around for you?

[bluestarone]

23. so you didn't answer the question tho

[BoneyardDem]

24. read post #15 and the statement in the OP

Yancey won the election by 10 votes on election night in November (1), triggering a recount (2)that resulted in Simonds winning by one vote(3). Republicans then challenged the single ballot(4), and a three-judge panel determined that it should count for Yancey(5), tying the race.

....then came the toss up

I'm not sure what more you think could have been done. But you go for it and ignore my observation of your continued harping on Dems. I expect no less.

[bluestarone]

25. did you not read post 18 (MY POST)

if this was done i will delete every post i have here ( link please) AFTER THE DRAWING!! tell me i'm wrong to want 2nd drawing.

[BoneyardDem]

27. yopu need to provide a link to that vote counting rule...i've never heard of it

[bluestarone]

29. hope this helps

http://www.tbo.com/party-control-for-virginia-up-in-air-after-contested-race-ap_election01be384c5fb742f69e28612e5bc3da35

[BoneyardDem]

31. You did not provide the statute, but from the article.

Court clerk Gary Anderson said the judges received Simonds' petition on Wednesday, but he could not say when a hearing might take place if the panel decides to consider it. Court officials have said any hearing will likely require some planning ahead of time.

looks like everyone is guessing. She has had input from her attorneys....apparently you didn't confer with her attorneys as to election law nuances.

[bluestarone]

33. please read about 9 lines from the bottom

2nd recount AND challenge other ballots is possible

[George II]

20. There already was a recount. How many times does one have to ask for a recount for you....

....to stop bashing her?

[bluestarone]

21. as soon as you show me

a link to a recount AFTER the drawing!!! 1 vote is all we needed

[BoneyardDem]

26. Never heard of your rule....do you have a link to that vote count rule?

[PoliticAverse]

32. Here you go...

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter6/section24.2-674/

§ 24.2-674. Determination by lot in case of tie.

If two or more persons have an equal number of votes for any county, city, town, or district office, and a higher number than any other person, the electoral board shall proceed publicly to determine by lot which of the candidates shall be declared elected.

If any two or more persons have an equal number of votes and a higher number than any other person for member of the General Assembly or of the Congress of the United States, or elector of President and Vice President of the United States, the State Board of Elections shall proceed publicly to determine by lot which of them shall be declared elected. Reasonable notice shall be given to such candidates of the time when such elections shall be so determined; and if they, or either of them, shall fail to appear in accordance with such notice, the Board shall proceed so as to determine the election in their absence.

Any person who loses the determination by lot may petition for a recount pursuant to Article 1 (§ 24.2-800 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of this title.

Code 1950, §§ 24-277, 24-290; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-149; 1993, c. 641.

There was already a recount in this election and it is unclear to me whether this specific provision actually provides for a second recount.

[nykym]

14. Did anyone check the other film canister

to see if Simmons name was actually there?

Just wondering....

[PoliticAverse]

28. Actually yes they did. He's a video of the process...