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 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.
Chafin has received criticism for his stance on Medicaid expansion in Virginia.
An estimated 20,000 people in his district, a district that is home to some of the most impoverished and medically underserved areas in the state, would benefit from expansion.
