[1][2] In 2003 Yancey started a real estate development and property management firm, and in 2009 he went into commercial fishing.
[2] On August 9, 2011, the 94th district incumbent and Republican nominee, Glenn Oder, announced his resignation from the House of Delegates to become the executive director of the Fort Monroe Authority, overseeing the disposal of the Fort Monroe military reservation after the United States Army's closing of the base.
[8] The race was significant because the Republicans' 51–49 majority in the House of Delegates depended on Yancey's win.
[9] On November 20, the Virginia State Board of Elections certified Yancey as the winner by 10 votes.
[12][13] Under Virginia state law, the winner is decided randomly by lot, though the loser can subsequently ask for another recount.
[16] Simonds declined to request another recount, stating that "she did not expect to prevail in a dispute that captured national attention".
Since the 2017 election was decided by such narrow margins, the 26 misaligned votes may have cost Democrats the seat and thus majority control in the Virginia House.