[1][2] In December, 1998, Puckett defeated two opponents to win a Special Election for the 38th Senatorial District,[3] replacing Jackson E. Reasor, Jr., who had been Senator from 1992 to 1998 (then CEO and President of both the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, and the VMDA, since 1998).

"The GOP-dominated House [was] firmly opposed, and the disagreement [had] led to a budget standoff that could trigger a government shutdown [if not resolved in under a month].

[8] In a statement regarding Puckett's resignation, Governor Terry McAuliffe said that he was disappointed because of the impact it would have on negotiations over his desire to expand Medicaid coverage for approximately 400,000 low-income Virginians.

"[11] Puckett disputed resigning to take a position with the commission, and said "he was stepping aside in part for unspecified 'difficult issues' facing his family.

[14] In February 2014, Ketron was confirmed by the Virginia House of Delegates to fill a six-year term for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

McAuliffe's chief of staff, Paul Reagan, had "left a voice-mail message for a Democrat who was on the verge of quitting the General Assembly in June, saying that the senator's daughter might get a top state job if he stayed to support the governor's push to expand Medicaid.

"The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not seek federal criminal charges surrounding the June resignation of state Sen. Phillip Puckett, D-Russell County.

While many Democrats protested the appointment, "in keeping with tradition in a Capitol that prides itself on civility, those opposed to the nominee chose to abstain rather than to cast a vote against her.