# Virginia's 38th Senate district

What was Virginia's 38th Senate district before 2023 redistricting is now numbered Virginia's 5th Senate district in the 2023 election, with altered district lines. The Southwest Virginia district surrounding Pulaski is one of 40 districts in the Senate of Virginia. It has been represented by Republican Travis Hackworth since 2021 as the 38th, following the death of fellow Republican A. Benton Chafin from complications of COVID-19. (The 38th district number, starting with the November, 2023, election is applied to a redefined district in Northeastern Virginia, bordering Maryland and the District of Columbia.

## Geography

District 38 is based in Southwest Virginia, including all of Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson, Pulaski, Russell, and Tazewell Counties and the cities of Norton and Radford, as well as parts of Montgomery, Smyth, and Wise Counties.
The district is located entirely within Virginia's 9th congressional district, and overlaps with the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 12th districts of the Virginia House of Delegates. It borders the states of West Virginia and Kentucky.

## Recent election results
### 2021 special

2021 Virginia Senate special election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Travis Hackworth | 18,082 | 76.3 |
| | Democratic | Laurie Buchwald | 5,585 | 23.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,706 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2019

2019 Virginia Senate election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ben Chafin (incumbent) | 30,295 | 63.6 |
| | Independent | George McCall III | 16,784 | 35.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,607 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2015

2015 Virginia Senate election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ben Chafin (incumbent) | 31,025 | 98.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,562 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014 special

2014 Virginia Senate special election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ben Chafin | 17,496 | 59.6 |
| | Democratic | Mike Hymes | 9,354 | 31.8 |
| | Independent | Rickey Mullins | 2,517 | 8.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,380 | 100 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2011

2011 Virginia Senate election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Phillip Puckett (incumbent) | 26,339 | 53.0 |
| | Republican | Adam Light | 23,328 | 46.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 49,720 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Federal and statewide results

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2020 | President | Trump 76.1–22.1% |
| 2017 | Governor | Gillespie 72.7–26.3% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 74.6–22.2% |
| 2014 | Senate | Gillespie 62.1–36.2% |
| 2013 | Governor | Cuccinelli 64.4–30.8% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 66.9–31.4% |
| 2012 | Senate | Allen 64.9–35.1% |

## Historical results

All election results below took place prior to 2011 redistricting, and thus were under different district lines.

### 2007

2007 Virginia Senate election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Phillip Puckett (incumbent) | 28,869 | 99.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,060 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2003

2003 Virginia Senate election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Phillip Puckett (incumbent) | 30,255 | 99.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,312 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1999

1999 Virginia Senate election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Phillip Puckett (incumbent) | 29,120 | 70.3 |
| | Republican | Barney Kidd | 12,269 | 29.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,401 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1998 special

1998 Virginia Senate special election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Phillip Puckett | 13,670 | 55.0 |
| | Republican | Roger Rife | 9,871 | 39.7 |
| | Independent | Jerry Ward | 1,293 | 5.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,838 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1995

1995 Virginia Senate election, District 38 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jackson Reasor (incumbent) | 27,637 | 63.7 |
| | Republican | Frank Nunez | 15,724 | 36.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,368 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |