A. Benton Chafin

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A. Benton Chafin
Image of A. Benton Chafin
Prior offices
Virginia State Senate District 38

Virginia House of Delegates District 4

Personal
Profession
Attorney and Farmer

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:

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:

2014 legislative session

In the 2014 legislative session, Chafin served on the following committees:

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
Image of A. Benton Chafin
A. Benton Chafin (R)
 
63.6
 
30,295
Image of George McCall III
George McCall III (Independent)
 
35.3
 
16,784
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.1
 
528

Total votes: 47,607
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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

See also: Virginia state legislative special elections, 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]

Virginia State Senate, District 38, Special Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngA. 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

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 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

Died from coronavirus on January 1, 2021

See also: Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

On January 1, 2021, Chafin passed away from complications related to coronavirus.[1]

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Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Virginia

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


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


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


External links

Footnotes

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)


Current members of the Virginia State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Scott Surovell
Minority Leader:Ryan McDougle
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Democratic Party (21)
Republican Party (19)