Virginia State Senator dies of COVID-19 complications
Numerous Republican lawmakers have contracted COVID-19
Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin (R) has died due to complications from COVID-19, his office announced on Friday. Chafin, 60, represented the state’s 38th district for the past six years.
Sen. Ben Chafin (via social media)
Gov.
Ralph Northam (D) and the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus confirmed Chafin’s death.
“The family of Senator Chafin thank the VCU Medical Center in Richmond for its vigorous care and heartfelt support during his two weeks of medical services there,” Chafin’s office said in a statement according to
Northam, who has reportedly ordered the state flag to be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of Chafin’s interment wrote in a statement, “Southwest Virginia has lost a strong advocate and we have all lost a good man.”
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In this February file photo, Virginia State Sen. Ben Chafin, R-Russell, listens to debate on the floor of the Senate during the session at the Capitol in Richmond. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
RICHMOND, VA Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin has died after contracting the coronavirus, Senate Republicans said Friday.
Chafin represented southwest Virginia and was from Russell County. A Republican, he was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2013 and then moved to the state Senate in 2014. He was 60.
Lawmakers from around the state mourned Chafin s death late Friday.
Subscribe I knew Ben as a lawmaker, an attorney, a banker, and a farmer raising beef cattle in Moccasin Valley, working the land just as generations of his family had done before him, Gov. Ralph Northam said. He loved the outdoors, and he loved serving people even more.