Democratic Sen. Edd Houck announced Thursday he will not request a recount and conceded his race to Republican challenger Bryce Reeves, giving the GOP complete control of government in Richmond. Houck, a seven-term incumbent from Spotsylvania, was 86 votes behind Reeves on election night Tuesday, but the gap grew to 222 after localities tallied provisional ballots. The 0.5 percent difference in 45,077 votes was still close enough for Houck to ask for a recount, but he said he would decline that opportunity during a news conference Thursday.
Reeves’ victory gives the GOP a two-seat gain in the Senate and forces a 20-20 split in the chamber. Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling presides over the Senate and holds the tiebreaker vote. He indicated Wednesday that Republicans will operate as though they have a majority.
Republicans now control the legislative and executive branches for just the second time since the Civil War, and are likely to pursue a considerably more conservative agenda when the new session begins in January.
Elections results aren’t official until the State Board of Elections certifies them on Nov. 28.
