Ben Chafin


Augustus Benton "Ben" Chafin Jr. is an American lawyer, farmer, and politician from Virginia. A member of the Republican Party, Chafin represents the 38th district of the Virginia Senate,

Career

Chafin established his own law firm in 1986. He represented the Russell County Industrial Development Authority as counsel.
Chafin was elected to represent the fourth district in the Virginia House of Delegates in the 2013 elections. He ran in a special election to the Virginia Senate. He was elected with 59.55% of the vote on August 19, 2014, in a special election. Chafin's victory tipped control of the Virginia Senate back to the Republicans, 21 to 19, after Democrats won control with the swearing-in of Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam following the 2013 general election.
Chafin succeeded Democrat Phillip Puckett, who resigned his seat following the 2014 General Assembly regular session. Previously, Chafin had represented the Fourth District in the Virginia House of Delegates, to which he was elected without opposition in November 2013, succeeding conservative Democrat Joseph P. Johnson. The Fourth comprises Dickenson County and parts of Russell, Wise, and Washington Counties.

Personal life

Chafin and his wife, Lora, have three children. He is from Lebanon, Virginia.