Amanda Chase (née Freeman; born December 1, 1969) is an American far-right politician[1] and conspiracy theorist.[2][3] From 2016 to 2024, she was a member of the Virginia Senate for the 11th District and represented Amelia County, the city of Colonial Heights, and part of Chesterfield County. Chase, self-described as "Trump in heels" was narrowly defeated in the primary of her reelection campaign for a redrawn 12th District in June 2023 and left office in January 2024.[4]
Amanda Chase | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Chase in 2022 | |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 11th district | |
| In office January 13, 2016 – January 10, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Martin |
| Succeeded by | Glen Sturtevant (Redistricting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Amanda Freeman December 1, 1969 Sheffield, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Michael Chase |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Virginia Tech (BS) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Chase has been deemed one of the most "prominent spreaders of election conspiracy theories in Virginia politics"[5] and has been noted for her attendance at Donald Trump's rally preceding the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, where she appeared to voice support for rioters by calling them "patriots" and suggesting that Trump might still be sworn in as president, despite losing the election to Joe Biden.[6] She also stated, "The insurrection is actually the deep state with the politicians working against the people to overthrow our government."
The Virginia State Senate censured Chase on a 24–9 vote (with three Republicans joining the majority) for "conduct unbecoming a senator" and "fomenting insurrection against the United States," stripping Chase of her lone committee assignment. This was the first censure of a Virginia state senator since 1987.[7][8] Despite saying she would "wear the censure as a badge of honor," Chase filed a federal lawsuit against the Virginia State Senate, but the suit was subsequently dismissed.[9][10]
Early life and career
editChase was born in Sheffield, Alabama, on December 1, 1969.[11] She has been a resident of Chesterfield County since 1979 and graduated from Monacan High School in 1988.[12] In 1992, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Virginia Tech.[12] Chase has worked in banking and financial management.[12] Since 2010, she has operated Chase Consulting LLC, a campaign management firm.[12] Since 2013, Chase has been an independent contractor in the financial services industry.[12]
Political career
editPolitical staffer
editIn 2009, Chase worked for Republican Ken Cuccinelli during his successful campaign for Virginia Attorney General; later, she was a staffer to Republican congressman Dave Brat.[13]
Elections to the Virginia State Senate
editIn 2015, Chase won the Republican nomination in Virginia's 11th State Senate District in an upset primary victory against incumbent senator Stephen H. Martin,[14] who had served since 1994. The solidly Republican district[15][16] comprises Amelia County, Colonial Heights, and much of Chesterfield.[14] Chase went on to defeat the Democratic nominee, attorney and retired Army colonel E. Wayne Powell, in the general election by about 69% to 31%.[15] Chase won reelection in 2019, defeating Democratic nominee Amanda Pohl.[16]
Persona, positions, and controversies
editDuring her political career, Chase has adopted a Donald Trump-like impact and persona.[17][18] One of the most far-right members of the state Senate,[1] she has described herself as "Trump in heels"[19][20] and gained attention in Virginia politics with provocative comments and stunts.[21] She has repeatedly promoted baseless claims that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was marred by election fraud and "stolen" by Democrats;[22][21] she has also claimed that Virginia Democrats "hate white people".[17][22] Chase marched with the far-right "boogaloo boys" in Richmond carrying an AR-15.[21]
Removal from the Chesterfield County Republican Party
editIn 2019, Chase was removed from the Chesterfield County Republican Party Committee after clashing with others in the organization; Chase had promoted the campaign of an independent candidate for sheriff, violating a party rule barring Republican committee members from supporting a non-Republican candidate running against a Republican nominee. The move was mostly symbolic, depriving her of voting rights in the county party, but having no effect on her status as a Republican nominee.[23]
Departure from Republican caucus
editIn November 2019, Chase announced that she would not caucus with the Republicans in the State Senate in 2020, citing what she called broken and failed Republican leadership, and lack of transparency. Chase remains affiliated with the Republican Party.[24]
Wearing a firearm in session
editOn January 15, 2019, Chase openly carried a loaded .38-caliber handgun in a holster while presenting bills to a state Senate committee, saying she did so as "a deterrent for over-exuberant folks.[25][26]
Dispute with Capitol Police officer
editOn March 22, 2019, Chase reportedly became "irate" and used supposed profanities at Capitol Police officers after being told that she was not allowed to park in the secured Pedestrian Plaza on Bank Street where she would park at times during session. When asked to move her car she told the officer that she would not move her vehicle "unless you let the f---ing barricades down to let me in". She was eventually allowed to park.[27][28]
Controversial statements
editIn a July 2019 post on Facebook about the Second Amendment, Chase said "[i]t's those who are naive and unprepared that end up raped. Sorry. But I'm not going to be a statistic." After a backlash, Chase posted a video in which she declined to apologize; said that her reply was "taken out of context"; and attacked critics as "trolls".[29]
In April 2021, a jury convicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of the murder of George Floyd. Chase said in a video that the conviction made her "sick" and claimed that the verdict was motivated by politics.[30][19]
Confederate monuments
editChase opposes removing the Richmond, Virginia, Robert E. Lee Monument, which has become a flashpoint of protests in recent times. "Removing the Robert E. Lee statue is a cowardly capitulation to the looters and domestic terrorists."[31] Chase further stated that the removal of Confederate statues is an "overt effort to erase all white history".[32]
COVID-19 pandemic
editDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Chase refused to wear a face mask during Virginia Senate sessions, contrary to public health guidance at the time. As a result of her refusal to wear a mask, she was required to sit in a plexiglass box during Senate sessions.[33]
Affiliation with Antonio Lamotta
editChase has repeatedly posed for photographs with Antonio Lamotta, a QAnon promoter who was arrested in Philadelphia shortly after the 2020 election for carrying pistols, an AR-15 rifle, and over 150 rounds of ammunition without a valid Pennsylvania firearms permit, a third-degree felony.[34] Chase said that the story was "fake news" from the "fake media" and that there is "no connection" between her and Lamotta other than his being a supporter of hers.[35]
Support for overturning 2020 presidential election results
editSupport for declaration of martial law
editIn a Facebook post on December 15, 2020, after Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, Chase called upon Trump to declare federal martial law and overturn the election results.[36] Chase baselessly asserted that there was "extensive fraud here in Virginia"[37] and alleged that the Biden–Harris campaign "cheated to win". Democratic representative Jennifer Wexton called Chase "unhinged" and Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Cox called her position "absurd and dangerous"; other officials also condemned Chase's statement, including Denver Riggleman, Barbara Comstock, and David Ramadan.[22]
Storming of the United States Capitol and censure by the state Senate
editChase attended Donald Trump's rally prior to the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, but stated that she left before the rioting began.[1] Chase refused to denounce the attack on the Capitol.[38] She praised the rioters as "Patriots who love their country and do not want to see our great republic turn into a socialist country"[38] while falsely suggesting that left-wing "antifa or BLM agents of destruction" were to blame for the assault.[1][2] (After Chase promoted this falsehood on Facebook, the social media site suspended her official Facebook account, which has more than 100,000 followers, for one week;[1][20][2] her personal Facebook account was unaffected.[20])
Chase also expressed her disappointment that Vice President Mike Pence did not intercede in the counting of the electoral votes to overturn Biden's victory.[39][38] Chase later said that Trump still might be sworn in for a second term, saying, "The insurrection is actually the deep state with the politicians working against the people to overthrow our government."[40]
On January 27, 2021, the state Senate voted 24–9 to censure Chase for "conduct unbecoming a senator" and "fomenting insurrection against the United States."[7][8] Three Republicans joining the majority in passing the censure resolution, which marked the first censure of a Virginia state senator since 1987.[7][8] Six Republican senators did not vote.[1] Republican leaders in the Virginia Senate removed her from her committee assignment and bemoaned her "selfishness and constant need for media attention."[41] In February 2021, Chase sued the state Senate and its clerk, claiming that the censure violated her First Amendment rights;[9] the court dismissed her suit in May 2021.[42]
Chase also claimed that Democratic state Senator Jennifer McClellan, a candidate for governor, could not represent all Virginians because of her leadership role in the Virginia Legislature's Black Caucus; this was one of several statements cited in the censure resolution against Chase.[21]
Campaign for the 2021 Republican gubernatorial nomination
editChase announced on February 17, 2020, that she would be seeking the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the 2021 election.[43] In December 2020, after the Virginia Republican Party decided to select its statewide nominees through a convention rather than an open primary, Chase said she would run for governor in the 2021 election as an independent candidate in the general election, but would remain a Republican.[17] Chase threatened to seek the gubernatorial nomination as an independent in an "independent primary."[44] Six days later, Chase reversed her decision to run as an independent, and continued on to run as a Republican while pushing for a primary.[45] On January 23, 2021, the 80-member Republican State Central Committee debated a proposal by Chase and her supporters to scrap the convention in favor of a primary. Amid an acrimonious debate, deadlock, and parliamentary maneuvering, the committee voted to stay with a convention.[46] In an interview with The New York Times, Chase vowed to "take out whichever Democratic candidate wins the nomination, and I will be the next governor of Virginia."[41]
On February 9, 2021, Chase sued the Republican Party of Virginia, arguing that the convention is illegal under current executive orders.[47] A Virginia circuit court judge dismissed the suit ten days later.[48]
Chase was one of seven candidates seeking the Republican nomination for governor: the others were Delegate Kirk Cox, a longtime member of the House of Delegates; Sergio de la Peña, a retired Army colonel and former Trump Defense Department appointee; Peter Doran, a former think tank executive; Pete Snyder, a businessman; Octavia Johnson, a former Roanoke sheriff; and Glenn Youngkin, a former co-chief executive of the Carlyle Group.[49][50] All of the Republican candidates for the gubernatorial nomination campaigned on the basis of their loyalty to Trump.[51] On May 10, 2021, Chase lost her bid for nomination at the Republican nomination convention to Youngkin.[21][52] She came in third place in a seven-candidate field; she was eliminated in the second-to-last round of ranked-choice voting, with 25%.[21] The top two candidates, Youngkin and Snyder, are both multimillionaires and vastly outspent Chase, whose campaign expenditures were around $600,000 (~$665,596 in 2023).[21] Winner Youngkin went on to defeat Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the general election.
2022 congressional race
editIn November 2021, Chase announced she would run for the Republican nomination to potentially take on Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in Virginia's 7th Congressional District.[53] In January 2022, after congressional redistricting put her home in Virginia's 1st Congressional District, Chase announced she would not run against incumbent Republican Congressman Rob Wittman.[54]
Possible state senate race
editIn July 2024, Chase announced she will run for state senate to fill the 10th district seat John McGuire will leave if he's elected to Congress in November.[55]
Election results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Amanda Chase | 4,907 | 40.48% | |
| Republican | Stephen H. Martin (incumbent) | 4,238 | 34.96% | |
| Republican | Barry Moore | 2,977 | 24.56% | |
| Total votes | 12,122 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Amanda Chase | 35,147 | 69.39% | |
| Democratic | Wayne Powell | 15,481 | 30.56% | |
| None | Write-In | 24 | 0.05% | |
| Total votes | 50,652 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Amanda Chase | 44,245 | 54.5% | |
| Democratic | Amanda Pohl | 36,734 | 45.3% | |
| None | Write-In | 189 | 0.2% | |
| Total votes | 81,168 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Glen Sturtevant | 8,833 | 39.9% | |
| Republican | Amanda Chase | 8,367 | 37.8% | |
| Republican | Tina Ramirez | 4,956 | 22.4% | |
| Total votes | 22,156 | 100% | ||
| 2021 Virginia GOP Convention, governor nominee[56] | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | ||||||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Glenn Youngkin | 4131.80 | 32.9% | 4140.55 | 33.0% | 4148.91 | 33.0% | 4331.93 | 34.5% | 5311.43 | 42.3% | 6869.22 | 54.7% |
| Pete Snyder | 3241.61 | 25.8% | 3243.84 | 25.8% | 3249.71 | 25.9% | 3502.91 | 27.9% | 4078.25 | 32.5% | 5684.78 | 45.3% |
| Amanda Chase | 2605.89 | 20.8% | 2611.54 | 20.8% | 2619.83 | 20.9% | 2859.39 | 22.8% | 3164.32 | 25.2% | Eliminated | |
| Kirk Cox | 1693.58 | 13.5% | 1698.13 | 13.5% | 1705.90 | 13.6% | 1859.77 | 14.8% | Eliminated | |||
| Sergio de la Peña | 805.35 | 6.4% | 812.44 | 6.5% | 829.65 | 6.6% | Eliminated | |||||
| Peter Doran | 42.28 | 0.3% | 47.50 | 0.4% | Eliminated | |||||||
| Octavia Johnson | 33.48 | 0.3% | Eliminated | |||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Sarah Rankin & Denise Lavoie, Virginia Senate approves measure rebuking Amanda Chase, Associated Press (January 27, 2021).
- ^ a b c Warren Fiske, Amanda Chase pushes bogus theory of antifa conspiracy behind Capitol riot, PolitiFact (January 15, 2021).
- ^ Bort, Ryan (November 2, 2021). "Glenn Youngkin's Campaign Surrogates Are Already Crying Fraud Ahead of Virginia's Gubernatorial Election— So Is Trump: The Republican can't disentangle himself from the election fraud conspiracy theories that helped win him the nomination". Rolling Stone. New York, NY: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
State Senator Amanda Chase, perhaps Virginia's most vehement election fraud conspiracy theorist...
- ^ Sforza, Lauren (June 21, 2023). "'Trump in heels' Amanda Chase loses GOP state Senate primary in Virginia". The Hill. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ Moomaw, Graham (June 22, 2023). "Vowing to fight election loss, Sen. Amanda Chase admits she's not sure there was fraud". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ McConnell, Jim (January 7, 2021). "Sen. Chase attends D.C. rally, refuses to denounce attack on U.S. Capitol". The Chesterfield Observer. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ a b c Mirshahi, Dean (January 27, 2021). "3 GOP lawmakers join Democrats as Virginia Senate censures Amanda Chase". WRIC-TV.
- ^ a b c Schneider, Gregory S. (January 27, 2021). "Virginia senator who called U.S. Capitol rioters 'patriots' is censured". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
- ^ a b Choi, Joseph (February 2, 2021). "Virginia GOP state senator sues after being censured by colleagues". The Hill.
- ^ Moomaw, Graham (January 27, 2021). "'A badge of shame': Virginia Senate votes to censure Amanda Chase". Virginia Mercury.
- ^ "Amanda F. Chase". Senate of Virginia. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "11th Senate District Candidates". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, VA. October 26, 2015.
- ^ McConnell, Jim (February 17, 2020). "State Sen. Amanda Chase announces bid for governor". The Chesterfield Observer.
- ^ a b "Democrats pick Amanda Pohl to run against Sen. Amanda Chase". Richmond Times-Dispatch. June 11, 2019.
- ^ a b Ramsey, John (November 3, 2015). "Chesterfield's Chase eases to victory in 11th Senate District". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
- ^ a b "Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, defeats Democrat Amanda Pohl in Senate District 11". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 5, 2019.
- ^ a b c Oliver, Ned (December 6, 2020). "Amanda Chase says she'll run as independent for governor, rejecting GOP convention". Virginia Mercury – via Fauquier Times.
- ^ Vozzella, Laura (September 30, 2019). "With Trump-style bravado, suburban state senator alienates her own party". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Vozzella, Laura (April 21, 2021). "Republican candidate for governor says Chauvin verdict makes her 'sick'". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c Vozzella, Laura (January 8, 2021). "Facebook suspends account of Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Vozzella, Laura (May 13, 2021). "Defeated Va. gubernatorial candidate Amanda Chase loses bid to overturn state Senate censure". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b c Vozzella, Laura (December 15, 2020). "Republican contender for Va. governor says Trump should declare martial law". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Patrick (September 30, 2019). "Chesterfield GOP kicks Sen. Amanda Chase out of the county party". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
- ^ Freeman, Vernon Jr. (November 22, 2019). "Sen. Amanda Chase leaves caucus after Norment elected as Senate minority leader". WTVR-TV. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- ^ Wilson, Patrick (January 15, 2019). "Sen. Chase wears handgun to podium to present bills in committee". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ Vozzella, Laura (January 16, 2019). "On the Senate floor with a gun on her hip, Republican says packing heat can deter violence". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ Tabackman, Lia (April 25, 2019). "Sen. Amanda Chase accused of cursing at Capitol Police officer over parking spot". WTVR-TV. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ Moomaw, Graham (April 26, 2019). "UPDATED with video: Police: Sen. Amanda Chase berated officer who wouldn't let her park in secure area at Capitol". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ Perry, Eric (July 5, 2019). "Virginia Senator faces criticism after online rape comment". WWBT. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ Jankowicz, Mia (April 22, 2021). "A Virginia GOP candidate for governor said Derek Chauvin's guilty verdict 'makes me feel sick'". Business Insider. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Samantha (June 4, 2020). "Governor candidate Amanda Chase, other Republicans denounce Robert E. Lee statue removal". WSLS-TV. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ Ortiz, Erik (January 1, 2020). "Virginia GOP calls own lawmaker's comments on Confederate statues 'idiotic'". NBC News. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ Epstein, Reid J. (February 19, 2021). "The Virginia G.O.P. Voted on Its Future. The Losers Reject the Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ Sommer, Will; Melendez, Pilar (November 6, 2020). "'Backbone of the #MAGA Movement': Armed Man Busted Near Philly Vote Center Is 'Vets for Trump' Founder". Daily Beast. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ Kolenich, Eric; Church, Abby (November 6, 2020). "Two Virginia men arrested with guns outside Pennsylvania Convention Center, where mail-in ballots were being counted". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ Ruiz, Michael (December 17, 2020). "Virginia gubernatorial candidate says 'Trump should declare martial law'". Fox News.
- ^ Zilbermints, Regina (December 15, 2020). "GOP gubernatorial candidate in Virginia calls on Trump to declare martial law". The Hill. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c McConnell, Jim (January 7, 2021). "Sen. Chase attends D.C. rally, refuses to denounce attack on U.S. Capitol". The Chesterfield Observer.
- ^ Paviour, Ben (January 6, 2021). "Virginia Politicians React To Washington DC Insurrection". VPM News. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ Lerer, Lisa; Epstein, Reid J. (January 14, 2021). "Abandon Trump? Deep in the G.O.P. Ranks, the MAGA Mind-Set Prevails". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Fuchs, Hailey (January 31, 2021). "After Capitol Riot, Elected Officials Under Pressure Back Home". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Green, Frank (May 13, 2021). "Judge dismisses Sen. Amanda Chase's lawsuit against Virginia Senate". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
- ^ Mattingly, Justin (February 17, 2020). "Chesterfield Sen. Amanda Chase announces run for governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Oliver, Ned (December 5, 2020). "Chase promises to run as independent for governor after Va. GOP opts for convention over primary". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
- ^ Jarvis, Brandon (December 11, 2020). "Amanda Chase changes course, says she will participate in a Republican convention". Virginia Scope. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Oliver, Ned (January 24, 2021). "Virginia Republicans stick with nominating convention". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ Manchester, Julia (February 9, 2021). "Republican gubernatorial candidate sues Virginia GOP over nominating process". The Hill. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ Vozzella, Laura (February 19, 2021). "Judge tosses suit brought by Republican contender for Virginia governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ Mirshahi, Dean (April 20, 2021). "Key takeaways from the Republican gubernatorial forum in Lynchburg". WRIC-TV. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ Vozzella, Laura (April 20, 2021). "Republicans running for Virginia governor appear at Liberty University forum". The Washington Post.
- ^ Karson, Kendall; Scanlan, Quinn (May 4, 2020). "'Trumpy, Trumpier and Trumpiest': Virginia GOP to vote on nominee for governor in post-Trump era". ABC News.
- ^ Zilbermints, Regina (May 10, 2021). "Former CEO Glenn Youngkin wins Virginia GOP gubernatorial convention". The Hill. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Amanda Chase seeks Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Abigail Spanberger". WWBT. November 18, 2021.
- ^ Manchester, Julia (January 3, 2022). "'Trump in heels' Amanda Chase discontinues congressional run after redistricting". The Hill.
- ^ Ress, Dave (July 3, 2024). "Amanda Chase bids to fill McGuire's state Senate seat". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024.
- ^ "Virginia GOP Convention, Governor Nominee Ranked Choice Voting Election Results Visualization". rcvis.com. RCVis. May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.