A re-canvass is already underway in that where Republican Bryce Reeves holds an 86 vote lead over incumbent Democrat Ed Houck. State Board of Elections Secretary Donald Palmer says the routine re-canvass could go into Thursday.

“That’s just to make sure that if there were 63 ballots cast in a precinct, there was inadvertently 36 that were reported, or some other human error,” says Palmer.

They will also review several dozen provisional ballots challenged on Election Day to see which ones should be counted.

If Reeves lead holds up, Houck could request a recount under state law because the vote margin is less than .5 percent. State party Chairman Brian Moran tells WTOP that will happen.

If Reeves eventually win, there will be a 20-20 tie in the state senate, leaving many deciding votes up to Republican Lt. Governor Bill Bolling.

With Republicans already in control of the Va. House a 20-20 split would make it easier for them to get through legislation that might otherwise die in the Democratic-controlled senate. That has happened often over the last few years.