A. Benton Chafin
A. Benton Chafin (Republican Party) was a member of the Virginia State Senate, representing District 38. He assumed office in 2014.
On January 1, 2021, Chafin passed away from complications related to coronavirus.[1]
Chafin was first elected to the state Senate chamber in a special election on August 19, 2014 and won new terms in 2015 and 2019. He previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 4 from January 2014 to September 2014.
Biography
Chafin was a beef cattle farmer and an attorney with a local practice. He served as general counsel for the Russell County Industrial Development Authority for 18 years.[2]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Chafin was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Courts of Justice Committee
- Senate Privileges and Elections Committee
- Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee
- Commerce and Labor Committee
- Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee
2016 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, Chafin served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2016 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources |
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • Courts of Justice |
| • Privileges and Elections |
| • Rehabilitation and Social Services |
2015 legislative session
In the 2015 legislative session, Chafin served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources |
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • Courts of Justice |
| • Rehabilitation and Social Services |
2014 legislative session
In the 2014 legislative session, Chafin served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2014 |
|---|
| • Courts of Justice |
| • Science and Technology |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2019
See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 38
Incumbent A. Benton Chafin defeated George McCall III in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 38 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | A. Benton Chafin (R) | 63.6 | 30,295 | |
| George McCall III (Independent) | 35.3 | 16,784 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.1 | 528 | ||
| Total votes: 47,607 | ||||
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2015
- See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2015
Elections for the Virginia State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 9, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 26, 2015.[3] No Democratic candidates filed for election. Incumbent Benton Chafin was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[4]
2014
A. Benton Chafin (R) defeated Mike Hymes (D) and Rick A. Mullins (I) in the special election, which took place on August 19.[5][6]
This special election was particularly important because it determined which party controlled the chamber. The seat was vacant following Phillip Puckett's (D) resignation on June 9, 2014.[7]
A special election for the position of Virginia State Senate District 38 was called for August 19, 2014. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 20. Candidates were chosen by the parties rather than through a primary.[8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  A. Benton Chafin |
59.6% | 17,496 | |
| Democratic | Mike Hymes | 31.8% | 9,354 | |
| Independent | Rick A. Mullins | 8.6% | 2,517 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0% | 13 | |
| Total Votes | 29,380 | |||
2013
Chafin won the 2013 election for Virginia House of Delegates District 4. Chafin ran unopposed in the June 11 Republican primary. He was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 5, 2013.[10]
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
A. Benton Chafin did not complete Ballotpedia's 2019 Candidate Connection survey.
Noteworthy events
On January 1, 2021, Chafin passed away from complications related to coronavirus.[1]
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|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Virginia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 12. A special session was held from August 18 to November 9.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored by the Family Foundation on their votes on bills related to "principles of life, marriage, parental authority, constitutional government and religious liberty."
- Legislators are scored based on their voting record on reproductive issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the Second Amendment.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the climate and energy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental and conservation issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 through February 24.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 10 through March 10. Special sessions were held from April 11 to May 30 and from August 30 to October 30.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 11 through February 25.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 13 through March 11.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 14 to February 28, 2015.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 10.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Chafin and his wife, Lora, had three children, Sophia Vance, Audra Chafin and Augustus Chafin III.[2]
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 WJHL, "Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin dies from COVID-19 complications," January 1, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 TriCities.com, "Russell Co. attorney to run for 4th District Va. House seat," March 18, 2013
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 General election candidates," accessed August 21, 2015
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed July 11, 2014
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Official special election results," accessed September 30, 2014
- ↑ WJLA, "Phil Puckett, Virginia senator, announces his resignation," June 9, 2014
- ↑ The Roanoke Times, "4 now seeking party nod for state Senate seat with NRV corner," June 17, 2014
- ↑ Washington Post, "Republicans select Del. Ben Chafin to run for Phillip Puckett’s Virginia Senate seat," June 20, 2014
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, “Official Results - 2013 General Election," accessed December 2, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Phillip Puckett (D) |
Virginia Senate District 38 2014-2021 |
Succeeded by Travis Hackworth (R) |
| Preceded by Joe Johnson (D) |
Virginia House of Delegates District 4 2014-2014 |
Succeeded by Todd E. Pillion (R) |
