 Shuler moved from Blacksburg to Pulaski County and ran for the open 7th district seat, but lost to Republican Dave Nutter in the November 6, 2001 general election, while Deeds won in the redrawn 12th.State Senator Emily Couric had died of pancreatic cancer on October 18, three weeks before the election, and Deeds won her seat in a special election on December 18.This created a vacancy in Shuler's old district, so he moved back to Blacksburg and won a 12th district special election on January 8, 2002.