Canvass Increases Reeves's Lead

Bryce Reeves now has a 224 vote lead over incumbent state senator Edd Houck in the 17th District race that has leaders from both parties on edge because control of the senate is at stake.

Before today's canvass, Reeves had an 86-vote lead over Houck, the seven-term incumbent. As of 6 p.m., the State Board of Elections shows Reeves with the new 0.50-percent lead.

Reeves raised his hand in victory early Wednesday morning.

"Now, it is time to move on to the far more important work of governing," he said in a prepared statement. "I look forward to joining with Governor Bob McDonnell in Richmond to advance common sense policies that will get Virginians back to work and reform our government to better serve the taxpayers.”

As it is now with Reeves the winner, there are 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats in the Senate. Any tie votes would go to Lt. Gov. Bill Boiling, who is a Republican. On Houck's Facebook page, some Spotsylvania County residents are complaining about how the redistricting knocked them out of the district and they couldn't vote in the race Tuesday.

"They certainly knew how to manipulate your district...makes me so angry," said resident Elisabeth Irmischer Piatt.