Former news anchor whose girlfriend died in live TV shooting is elected in Virginia
Democrat Chris Hurst defeated Republican incumbent Joseph Yost to win House District 12. Hurst, right, celebrates with a packed room of supporters in Blacksburg, Va. on Nov. 7, 2017.
Reporting from BLACKSBURG, Va. — 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 House of Delegates.
Chris Hurst beat Joseph Yost Tuesday in a high-profile race for the Blacksburg-area seat Tuesday.
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, bringing national attention and a large social media following. The Pennsylvania native quit his TV job and moved to Blacksburg to run in the 12th District.
The Democrat’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.
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