[This is the drawing from a bowl we reported on in December – which has just been used to break the 11,608-vote tie between the two candidates because a Virginia law from 1705 specifies that that’s how ties will be broken. Democrat Shelley Simonds is entitled to request a second recount. – J.E.]
Virginia House of Delegates Republican David Yancey officially won re-election in a tie-breaking name drawing ceremony Thursday morning, dealing a serious blow to incoming Democratic Governor-elect Ralph Northam’s push to become the next state to expand Medicaid under Obamacare.
Yancey’s victory Thursday means Republicans maintain a slim 51-49 majority in the state House, which gives Republicans in the state the leverage to dictate the legislative agenda going forward.
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While incoming Democratic Gov. Northam has said he is willing to reach across the aisle to help find substantive reforms for Medicaid, he has made it known that pushing the state to expand the program under Obamacare will remain a key priority of his when he takes office in January.
“I have and will continue to advocate for Medicaid expansion because it is a no-brainer for Virginia families, our budget, and our economy. We can also come together on smart policy choices that will allow us to deliver better care at lower cost,” Northam tweeted in December.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe was unable to successfully usher Medicaid expansion through during his term serving as the state’s governor, facing a strong 66-34 GOP House majority.
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This report, by Robert Donachie, was cross-posted by arrangement with the Daily Caller News Foundation.