Former news anchor whose girlfriend killed live on air elected in Virginia

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 state’s House of Delegates.

Chris Hurst beat Joseph Yost Tuesday in a high-profile race for the Blacksburg-area seat Tuesday.

READ MORE: Boyfriend of slain Virginia reporter Alison Parker speaks out in grief

“No matter if you are blue or red, whether you voted for me or not, we need to start bringing this New River Valley together and not continuing to look at it as different localities that aren’t really unified as one,” Hurst told local media following his acceptance speech.

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.

2:16 Former anchor elected in Virginia says slain girlfriend would have wanted him to do ‘better’

• Former anchor elected in Virginia says slain girlfriend would have wanted him to do ‘better’
• Former news anchor whose girlfriend killed live on air elected in Virginia

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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 platform focused on education, health care and the environment, but he told CNN on Tuesday that he would address stricter gun control after being backed by gun-control groups during the campaign.

READ MORE: Father of on-air shooting victim says Congress should take on gun lobby

“Every single idea that could possibly address and reduce the number of people dying from gun homicide, suicide and accidental fire deaths, I think, is finally on the table,” he said.

Following his acceptance speech, Hurst said he believed Parker would be “proud” of his victory.

“I think knowing Alison and how determined and driven she was, she probably would have wanted me to perform even better than we did,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think knowing Alison and how determined and driven she was, she probably would have wanted me to perform even better than we did," he said.

“She would have immediately started to bend my ear about making sure that this seat belongs to the people of this district, it does not belong to me, that I have been hired for a two-year contract, and that contract comes with a list of responsibilities and demands,” Hurst told WDBJ.

Parker’s parents were “thrilled” to be a part of the cheering crowd and to watch Hurst accomplish his goal.

“I know that Allison is smiling and she’s with us and enjoying every minute of this,” Alison’s father, Andy Parker, told WDBJ. “I will never see my dreams for her come true, but I think I will for Chris.”

— With a file from Global News