RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Republicans have retained control of the state Senate with the victory of GOP candidate Ben Chafin in a special election for the 38th Senate District. The Virginia Board of Elections reported Tuesday that Chafin beat Democrat Mike Hymes 59 percent to 32 percent. The site said more than 99 percent of the votes have been counted. With Chafin’s victory, Republicans control 21 seats in the Senate compared to the Democrats’ 19. Republicans have overwhelming control of the state House. Gov. Terry McAuliffe is a Democrat. The 38th Senate District stretches across several counties in southwest Virginia. Chafin will replace Phil Puckett, a conservative Democrat who quit the Senate in June.
