RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Democratic state senator from Virginia has conceded a narrow loss to his GOP opponent, guaranteeing the Republicans control of not only the Senate but state government.
Seven-term state Sen. Edd Houck announced Thursday evening that he would not contest the results of an election Tuesday. Unofficial results show the Spotsylvania Democrat finished 222 votes behind Republican Bryce Reeves, a former undercover narcotics officer who now owns an insurance firm.
Houck's defeat assures Republicans of the two-seat gain they need to forge a 20-20 split in Virginia's 40-member Senate. The presiding officer, Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, holds the tie-breaking vote.
Bolling and Republican senators said they would use their one-vote advantage to assume the Senate majority. The House and governor's office are already under GOP control.
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