On Saturday August 15, 2020 State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase the Republican Senator turned Independent according to the latest update of the Virginia Senate on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_of_Virginia ) continued her campaign tour of western Virginia where Chase participated in the "Back the Blue" event in Salem.
The event was sponsored locally by Veterans Event Management Inc. and drew a hundred or so Virginians in the rain to march in support of law enforcement. The event did not come without some protest however from a small group of people demanding police reforms. The Progressive Anti-Racist Action marched at times alongside the "Back the Blue" marchers through parts of downtown Salem.
Many critics of Senator Chase have attacked her for her disingenuous nature when it comes to law enforcement, especially in her home county of Chesterfield in suburban Richmond, Virginia. Chase has had repeated run-ins politically with Chesterfield County Police and the Chesterfield County Sheriff as well as even Capital Police in Richmond.
Senator Chase was removed from her local political committee the Chesterfield County Republican Committee after she refused to follow the Republican Party Plan and support a Republican nominee which comes with it a four year ban from committee activities. Chase's refusal to support Karl Leonard who ultimately won election as Sheriff of Chesterfield County resulted in serious controversy for the Senator given such months before the Senator was involved in misrepresenting an encounter with Capitol Police at the State Capitol over Chase taking liberty with a parking spot that was unauthorized for her use. Chase asserted one story regarding the incident that was never substantiated and was found to have berated a police officer she claimed she had not once a video surfaced. This came after Chase was reported to have used Capital Police for unauthorized chaffuering whereby she was using state property for her own personal benefit.
The Republican leadership embarrassed by the actions of State Senator Chase issues a statement of support for the Capitol Police.
Furthermore, Senator Chase just last month stepped into a similar issue with Chesterfield County Police when she claimed to have been informed by its Chief that ANTIFA that was participating in protests in Richmond for weeks were planning to cross the James River into Chesterfield and riot and loot residences.
“I actually spoke with Chesterfield Police Chief [Jeffrey] Katz, and just wanted to make aware to you all what is actually coming to Richmond,” said Chase. “First of all, it is conclusive that Antifa has been in the Richmond area. They are now going into, this evening, the greater Richmond area neighborhoods. I know that Chesterfield County where I live is one of those targets.”
Chase just last month failed to appear at her own county event to support law enforcement called "Go Blue Day" on July 25 and Chase failed to make any mention of the event on her official page offering any support.
The Senator has been very vocal with her opposition to the protesting efforts in the Richmond the last few months that have resulted in the removal of statues and monuments along historic Monument Avenue. Chase claimed "there is an all out attack on folks that are white" relating to the protesting. Chase would later claim that "they" were "going after white history" on a radio show with John Fredericks.
Then on Saturday in Salem at the American Legion State Senator Chase openly states to those in attendance that "We are in an all-out war" today. Was Chase referring to "Republicans" or "white people"? So much of the rhetoric lately from Chase has come along the same racial lines as previous statewide candidate Corey Stewart that the campaign appears to almost mirror Stewart's failed Senate bid in 2018.
None of this appears to have been too convincing for most Republicans in Virginia. The thought of Chase threatening to run as an independent if there is not a primary has not sat well with many in the party. The likelihood is that the Republican Party of Virginia will declare a convention method to select the candidates in 2021 to represent the party and Chase appears to be positioning herself for the opportunity to claim it was done to keep her from winning. Its a rather interesting political strategy however everything Chase has done in recent weeks suggests she is preparing for a convention as she is courting local committees that typically end up as delegates at the statewide convention. Chase supported and participated as a delegate in the nominating convention for the Virginia Seventh Congressional District and made her participation very visible on site and on social media. In fact, some have even claimed that Chase attempted to steal the limelight as she worked the delegates not only on behalf of Delegate Nick Freitas but also herself.
Freitas would win the nomination on the third ballot and Chase was heard claiming to deliver Chesterfield County to Freitas in the election this Fall as Freitas squares off against Democratic incumbent Abigail Spanberger. While it might seem rather insignificant of a claim given the historical dominance of the GOP in Chesterfield, the county has moved closer towards the center than at any time in the last thirty years. Spanberger won Chesterfield County just two years ago by 10 points over Rep. David Brat (R) whom Senator Chase has long ties with and supported.
The Chase campaign still appears to be a campaign that is trying to find its messaging. The current messaging is not resonating with voters in Virginia if you consider Senator Chase trails in fundraising and has not even come close to raising even half what prior candidates have in the first quarters of statewide bids while potential challengers have raised close to one million or more. This is a huge concern as the Republican Party now appears poised ready to launch other candidates into the nomination process.
Well respected former State Senator Bill Carrico and Delegate Kirk Cox are expected to enter the race come October/November and some consider Rep. Denver Riggleman a potential to enter after losing his primary seeking re-election in the Virginia Fifth Congressional. Another one many are keeping an eye on is Virginia businessman Pete Synder.
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