After a day and a half of recounting thousands of ballots cast in a Virginia Beach delegate race, the Democrat who originally declared victory seems to have picked up a few more votes.
The new results won’t be certified by judges until Wednesday, but the Virginia Beach voter registrar said Democrat Nancy Guy unofficially gained 14 votes after recounting, apparently defeating incumbent Republican Chris Stolle by 41 votes.
Jeff Marks, Stolle’s attorney, said the recount in Virginia Beach ended around 11:15 a.m. Friday.
The recount wrapped up in Norfolk Thursday around 2 p.m. Voter Registrar Stephanie Iles said there were no changes to the vote count and no challenges to any of the 1,139 ballots cast in Norfolk — 514 for Stolle, 625 for Guy — and that sheriff’s deputies delivered the recount results to the judges Thursday.
Although Norfolk makes up only a small slice of the district, that’s where Guy’s margin of victory came. In Virginia Beach, the recount showed Guy with 16 more votes than before and Stolle with two more votes.
Marks said Stolle was grateful for the professionalism shown during the count.
“He appreciates all the efforts that have been put in,” Marks said of Stolle, who is a doctor.
In a statement, Stolle listed off his accomplishments since being elected in 2009, including modernizing the state’s transportation system, preserving Pleasure House Point and working to adapt to flooding.
“I am truly honored to have served the citizens of the 83rd District,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Virginia House Democrats said Stolle called Guy to concede Friday.
Guy, a former Virginia Beach school board member, thanked Stolle for his years of service.
“It is a great honor to represent Virginia Beach and Norfolk in the House of Delegates, and it is a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” she said in a statement.
If Guy is declared the official winner on Wednesday, Democrats will hold a majority of 55 seats in the 100-member House of Delegates.
At the hearing Wednesday, the judges will also rule on the three challenged ballots that recount officials couldn’t agree on.
Marie Albiges, 757-247-4962, malbiges@dailypress.com