A recount is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Monday in a race that will determine control of the Virginia state Senate.
Just nine votes separate Democrat Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. and Republican B. Wayne Coleman out of more than 20,000 ballots cast in a special election for the seat formerly held by Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, a Democrat.
Mr. Coleman, who is trailing, was entitled to a publicly funded recount because of the narrow margin.
The race for the 6th District Senate seat in the Hampton Roads area will decide control of the state Senate, after Democrat Jennifer Wexton fended off two challengers in a Northern Virginia contest Tuesday for the seat vacated by Attorney General Mark R. Herring.
A Democratic victory would mean the Senate would again be evenly divided 20-20, with Democrats having effective control since Mr. Northam would cast the tie-breaking vote in the chamber.
A Republican win would give the GOP, which already holds a majority in the House of Delegate, outright control of the General Assembly. Democrats swept the top three statewide offices in November’s elections, led by Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
The recount, which comes after the State Board of Elections certified the vote earlier this month, will be the second in the state in recent months. A similar tally last month affirmed Mr. Herring’s victory over Republican attorney general candidate Mark D. Obenshain.
• Matthew Cella can be reached at mcella@washingtontimes.com.
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