A random name-draw has determined that the Republicans will retain their majority in the Virginia state legislature, putting an end to a bizarre race between two candidates. State officials literally reached into a bowl — an "artsy stoneware" offering borrowed from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, per The Washington Post — and drew the name of incumbent Del. David Yancey, a Republican, delivering defeat to Democratic candidate Shelly Simonds and ensuring Republicans a 51-49 majority.
The race between Yancey and Simonds was originally decided in November, when Yancey appeared to best Simonds by 10 votes. But a December recount showed Simonds actually winning by a single vote — until a judicial panel decided the next day to throw out one of Simonds' votes, throwing the race into a tie. Virginia law stipulates that in the event of a tie, a race is decided by "lot," or random chance.
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