A former Virginia news anchor whose journalist girlfriend was fatally shot during a live broadcast in 2015 has defeated a Republican incumbent for a seat in the statehouse.
Chris Hurst was living with fellow journalist Alison Parker when she and a cameraman were killed by a former co-worker while reporting for WDBJ-TV.
After the shooting, Hurst became the public face of the grieving Roanoke station. That brought him national attention and a large social media following. The Pennsylvania native quit his TV job and moved to Blacksburg to run for a House seat.
He beat Joseph Yost Tuesday.
Hurst's campaign was backed by gun-control groups, but that wasn't his main campaign issue. Instead, he focused on education, health care and the environment.
#Breaking AP calls 12th District House of Delegates race. Democrat Chris Hurst unseats incumbent Republican Joseph Yost. pic.twitter.com/Hm5gss75VR
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) November 8, 2017
