Amanda Chase

Amanda Chase
Chase in 2022
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 11th district
In office
January 13, 2016 – January 10, 2024
Preceded bySteve Martin
Succeeded byGlen Sturtevant (Redistricting)
Personal details
Born
Amanda Freeman

(1969-12-01) December 1, 1969 (age 54)
Sheffield, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMichael Chase
Children4
EducationVirginia Tech (BS)
WebsiteCampaign website

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]

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]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference RankinLavoie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Warren Fiske, Amanda Chase pushes bogus theory of antifa conspiracy behind Capitol riot, PolitiFact (January 15, 2021).
  3. ^ 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...
  4. ^ Sforza, Lauren (June 21, 2023). "'Trump in heels' Amanda Chase loses GOP state Senate primary in Virginia". The Hill. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Mirshahi, Dean (January 27, 2021). "3 GOP lawmakers join Democrats as Virginia Senate censures Amanda Chase". WRIC-TV.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference censure was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Choi, Joseph (February 2, 2021). "Virginia GOP state senator sues after being censured by colleagues". The Hill.
  10. ^ Moomaw, Graham (January 27, 2021). "'A badge of shame': Virginia Senate votes to censure Amanda Chase". Virginia Mercury.