Pro-Gun Chafin Wins Puckett Seat to Keep State Senate in GOP Hands

Delegate Ben Chafin (R-Russell County), won a special election Tuesday for former state Sen. Phillip Puckett’s (D-Russell County) Southwest Virginia seat, which means Republicans will maintain control of the State Senate and keep a pro-gun majority in place.  The GOP briefly lost control after the 2013 elections when Democrat Lt. Governor Ralph Northam took over for outgoing Republican Bill Bolling and a Democrat was elected to replace Northam.  While the Senate organization put into place in 2011 was to remain in effect until after the 2015 election, Democrats immediately used their new found power in a 20-20 chamber to change that and took control of the committees in the middle of the 2014 session, souring relations in the chamber.

In a surprise mover earlier this summer, Senator Puckett resigned, throwing control back to the GOP.  A special election was called to fill the seat and Chafin came up the winner.

Gun Banners Lose Control of Virginia Senate

In a surprise announcement Sunday, southwest Virginia State Senator Phillip Puckett (D-Russell) resigned from the Senate of Virginia, leaving Democrats one vote short of control of the chamber.  The Richmond Times Dispatch has the story here.  While this does not immediately impact legislation related to our rights, it could immediately impact committee make up as the General Assembly is still in special session to deal with the budget.  Governor Terry McAuliffe and the Republican controlled House of Delegates are in a stalemate over expanding Medicaid as part of Obamacare.  While McAuliffe's statement on Puckett's retirement showed his anger at the move and the likely impact it will have on Democrats in the State Senate to continue to hold the budget hostage, it could just as easily been aimed at how the move will impact future firearm related legislation. 

“This situation is unacceptable, but the bipartisan majority in the Senate and I will continue to work hard to put Virginians first and find compromise on a budget that closes the coverage gap.“

With the gun banners in contol of Senate Courts of Justice, they were hopeful they could get gun control bills to the floor of the Senate.  Now, that could all change as Repubicans could be slightly favored to win the open seat.  Stay tuned as more information for the special election becomes available.