Thurmon Travis Hackworth (born June 5, 1975) is an American businessman and politician, serving as a member of the Virginia Senate from the 38th district. A member of the Republican Party, he took office on April 2, 2021.

Travis Hackworth
Member of the Virginia Senate
Assumed office
April 2, 2021
Preceded byBen Chafin
Constituency38th District (2021–2024)
5th District (since 2024)
Personal details
Born
Thurmon Travis Hackworth

(1975-06-05) June 5, 1975 (age 49)
Tazewell, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAngela Rebecca Boyd
Alma materSouthwest Virginia Community College[1]
OccupationConstruction Business Executive

Hackworth is a businessman from Richlands, Virginia, and serves on the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.[2] The members elected him chair of the board in January 2019.[3] He won the special election to represent Virginia's 38th Senate district in the Virginia Senate, following the death of Ben Chafin, with 76% of the vote on March 23, 2021.[4]

Hackworth petitioned the Supreme Court of Virginia to prevent the state's redistricting commission from using a new state law to draw the legislative maps. The law changed how prisoners are counted in the population, as they were previously counted at their incarcerated address, but are now counted by their last known address. The state Supreme Court dismissed the petition in an order issued September 22, 2021.[5]

In December 2021, Hackworth introduced a bill to the State Senate that would rescind requirements that schools follow Virginia Department of Education guidelines on equal treatment of transgender students.[6] The bill, which faced strong opposition from trans rights advocates, was voted down in committee.[7]

References

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  1. ^ https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S112
  2. ^ "Hackworth wins GOP nomination for Senate District 38 special election in Virginia". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. January 22, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Boothe, Charles (January 14, 2019). "New chairman sworn in for Tazewell Co. Board of Supervisors". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Friedenberger, Amy (March 23, 2021). "Travis Hackworth wins special election for Southwest Virginia state Senate seat". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Virginia Supreme Court Rejects Redistricting Challenge". US News. Associated Press. September 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Ring, Trudy (January 18, 2022). "Virginia Bill Seeks to Restrict Trans Students' Restroom Access". The Advocate. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  7. ^ Schmidt, Markus (January 27, 2022). "Senate panel nixes Hackworth's transgender bill". Cardinal News. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
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Senate of Virginia
Preceded by Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 38th district

2021–2024
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 5th district

2024–Present
Incumbent