VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — An official recount done for Virginia's 83rd House District race that covers Virginia Beach and part of Norfolk shows that Democrat Nancy Guy won by 41 votes.
On November 18, Republican incumbent Chris Stolle asked the State Board of Elections for a recount. At that time, the count showed he was only 27 votes behind his opponent Democrat Nancy Guy.
In localities in Virginia Beach, the sum total of votes Chris Stolle received was 10,432 versus Guy's 10,362.
In Norfolk, the results reveal that Stolle got 514 votes while Guy took home 625.
Combine the results from both cities and do the math -- we see that Stolle received 10,946 votes and Guy secured 10,987, making Guy the winner by a slim margin.
Stolle released a statement on the recount:
“I want to thank Judge Croshaw for his leadership, the Registrars, the City Clerks and their staff, and most importantly the citizen officials and observers who stepped up to serve on the recount teams. While the results were not what we had hoped for, I am so very proud of all that we have accomplished working together; modernization of our transportation system, our work to support veterans and their families, preserving Pleasure House Point, becoming national leaders in adapting to flooding, and improving the quality and access to healthcare for all Virginians. I am truly honored to have served the citizens of the 83rd District. I want to thank the volunteers and supporters who have worked so hard for me and I am truly touched by their kind words and friendship. Earlier this afternoon I called Nancy Guy to congratulate her on winning a hard-fought campaign and wished her success in representing us in Richmond.”
Before this recount, prior results reported that Guy still won the race, but by 27 votes.
13News Now political analyst Quentin Kidd said he didn't believe the recount would change anything after the initial results designated Nancy Guy as the winner.
“The odds of a recount overturning the results of an election are really slim. It just doesn’t happen very often,” he said. “It isn’t going to change any votes that have already been cast... The odds are that Nancy Guy is still going to come out the winner after this recount.”
The 83rd House District includes parts of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) issued the following statement today on the recount results in House District 83:
"Chris Stolle has been a consistent voice for Hampton Roads and one of the most respected members in the House. Chris is my friend and I’m proud of our work together.
The people of the 83rd District have been well served by Chris. His work helping guide Virginia’s fiscal course on the Appropriations Committee, improving health care for countless Virginians, and addressing coastal flooding will be felt for years to come. I am confident his service to his community will continue as he begins a new chapter.
I congratulate Nancy Guy on her election to the House of Delegates and wish her all the best as she begins her work on behalf of the cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk."
In the November election, Virginia flipped enough seats to gain control of the chamber. The outcome of this recount will not impact the party's control.