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The top Republican in Virginia’s House of Delegates said Friday that the GOP plans to elect its own speaker on the first day of the legislative session, claiming Democratic efforts to challenge the tied result in a Newport News-area House race will force the body to move forward without one member or risk jeopardizing aspects of Gov.-elect Ralph Northam’s inauguration.

Del. M. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights, who hopes to become the next House speaker if Republicans can hold on to their majority after losing at least 15 seats in last month’s elections, called the Democratic legal filings and PR campaign crying foul over the apparent tie between Republican Del. David E. Yancey and Democrat Shelly Simonds in the 94th House District “a deliberate strategy to make it more difficult for the House to organize smoothly.”

With the outcome in the 94th District still unsettled, Cox said in a conference call with reporters that even if a planned tiebreaker occurs before the legislative session begins Jan. 10, the House won’t seat the winner if the loser asks for a recount. Cox didn’t say definitively if Yancey will ask for a recount if Simonds wins, but he said it’s unlikely a second recount could occur before Jan. 10. If other results hold, that means Republicans would have a 50-49 majority on opening day, presumably allowing Cox to be elected speaker.