RICHMOND, Va. -- Republican incumbent David Yancey won a "lot draw" in the race for Virginia's House of Delegates Thursday, giving Republicans control of the chamber.
Minutes before the draw, however, Democrat Shelly Simonds wouldn't commit to accepting the outcome, rather than pursuing a second recount or some other tactic to settle the race. She told reporters she's "keeping all options open, really."
Virginia's State Board of Elections met at 11 a.m. ET to settle a 11,608-to-11,608 tie between Simonds and Yancey for a seat in the state's House of Delegates.
The winner was chosen through a quirk of democracy established by a 1705 Virginia law on tiebreakers: a lot drawing.
Both candidates' names were be placed in film canisters inside a blue and white ceramic bowl made by Virginia artist Steven Glass, and a board of elections member drew the winner.
State legislative races have been settled this way before.
In Mississippi in 2015, a House seat was decided by the candidates drawing straws (though the Democratic candidate's win was quickly overturned by the Republican-controlled state House). In 2006, a coin toss settled a primary for an Alaska House seat.
But seldom, if ever, have the stakes been so high. Since Yancey won, , Republicans will have a 51-49 majority and keep control of the House -- allowing them to stymie Democrat Ralph Northam, who won November's governor's race. A Simonds' win would have forced the parties to share power in the House.
It was the second attempt to hold the lot drawing. The first effort, scheduled for December, was canceled when Simonds asked a court to toss out a ballot it had previously decided to count for Yancey, resulting in the tie. The court rejected Simonds' motion on Wednesday.
