Republican David Yancey and Democrat Shelly Simonds attend an event Nov. 28 at Heritage High School in Newport News, Va. Their race remains in limbo. (Julia Rendleman/For The Washington Post)

With the outcome of a critical House of Delegates race in legal limbo, Democrats and Republicans appear to be looking for new ways to wield power in a chamber that could be split down the middle.

According to an internal Democratic email warning the caucus to stick together, House Republicans are trying to woo an unknown number of Democrats to side with them when the House elects a speaker on Jan. 10, offering plum committee assignments as enticements.

"Despite their best efforts, Republicans have so far failed to undermine our unity by offering deals to various members in exchange [for] a vote for Speaker," Democratic Leader David Toscano (Charlottesville) wrote in the email, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post.

Parker Slaybaugh, spokesman for Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), who is in line to become speaker if the GOP retains the majority, declined to comment on Toscano's assertions.

Toscano declined to comment on which Democrats the GOP had approached.

"The Caucus is strong and will not succumb to Republican efforts to pick our people off," Katie Baker, a spokeswoman for the House Democratic Caucus, said in a text message.

In his email to Democratic lawmakers, Toscano warned them against calling in sick when the legislature convenes for the 2018 session on Jan. 10 — or even taking an ill-timed bathroom break during the floor session, fearing that in an evenly split chamber, the GOP might seize any opportunity to call a vote and take control.

"If you are sick, you still need to come, even if we have to wheel you in (with my bad back, this actually might happen), provide cough medicine, or whatever else you need," Toscano wrote. "If you need child care, let us know so we can work something out. Because if you are not in the chamber at the time of the vote on the Rules and Speaker, we will definitely lose the votes, and all of our energized voters will know that your absence kicked control over to the Republicans."

Republicans have led the House for 17 years and had a 66-34 majority heading into the Nov. 7 elections. But Democrats picked up at least 15 seats, part of a broad backlash against President Trump (R).

In the 94th legislative district, Republican incumbent David Yancey appeared to beat Democratic challenger Shelly Simonds by 10 votes. Then a Dec. 19 recount left Simonds ahead by a single vote.

The next day, a three-judge panel decided that a ballot that was declared ineligible during the recount should count for Yancey, tying the race at 11,608 apiece. The ballot in question contained marks for Simonds and for Yancey, as well as an extra mark by Simonds's name that the court ruled was an effort to strike out the mark in her favor.

On Wednesday, Simonds filed a legal challenge to that ruling by overnight UPS delivery to Newport News Circuit Court.

The motions to reconsider prompted the state Board of Elections to call off plans to break the tie Wednesday by drawing a name out of a 19th-century pitcher unearthed on Capitol Square. The board said it would prefer that the race be decided on merits, with a random drawing done only as a last resort.

Cheryl Penny, the chief deputy clerk of the court, said no hearing on the motion could be scheduled Wednesday, in part because the three judges are from different jurisdictions and some may have been out of town.

Penny said the judges will communicate and set a date for when they can get together or possibly convene remotely.

If the outcome of the Yancey-Simonds race is not determined by Jan. 10, Republicans would control the chamber 50 to 49. If Simonds wins the seat, the House will be evenly split, forcing the parties into a rare power-sharing arrangement. If Yancey wins, the Republicans will retain their majority by the slimmest possible margin.

If there is a drawing to decide the race, the loser could seek a second recount.

The three-judge panel's decision is not subject to appeal to a higher court. But that would not not stop either side from filing a lawsuit, perhaps on constitutional grounds.

Democrats also are seeking a new election in the House race that Republican Bob Thomas won by 73 votes, in which an apparent voter-registrar error led to 147 voters casting ballots in the wrong districts. Two voters who said the error denied them the chance to choose Democrat Joshua Cole are asking a federal judge for a new election. A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5.

It's not unheard of in Virginia for Republicans to exploit a temporary absence for partisan gain. In January 2013, Republicans in an evenly split Virginia Senate used the one-day absence of a single Democrat — who was in Washington, D.C., attending President Obama's second inauguration — to push through a rewrite of the Senate map.

The scheme drew ridicule on late-night television, and Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) eventually tossed out the map on procedural grounds.

Morrison reported from Newport News, Va.