Big money, sharp elbows in special senate election

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The candidates in a special election that will determine which political party controls the state Senate are spending big money and throwing sharp elbows ahead of Tuesday’s contest.

Republican Ben Chafin and Democrat Mike Hymes have each raised more than $700,000 for their campaigns and spent heavily on television ads, according to state campaign finance and Federal Communications Commission records. Those totals are likely to increase during the final days of the campaign.