Amanda Chase's Offensive Behavior Is Pushing Away Fellow Republicans, Swing Voters

GOP Senator Amanda Chase likes to think that her public fights with Virginia Capitol Police, inflammatory ads that call for violence against gun violence prevention groups, and Trump-like offensive behavior endear her to Republicans. But the cracks are starting to show in the 11th District where she is facing a tough challenge from Democrat Amanda Pohl, who outraised Chase by $50,000 in the last quarter. New reporting from the Richmond Times-Dispatch shows local Republicans are sick and tired of Chase's combative behavior that gets nothing done for their district, and some are refusing to vote for her in November. 

KEY POINTS:

"Chase used the Capitol Police for transportation so frequently during this year’s General Assembly session that its chief asked the House and Senate clerks to remind lawmakers that police were not available to transport them to restaurants or social functions. Chase said no one had ever told her the rules.

In April, a Capitol Police report said Chase cursed at a female African American police officer after Chase tried to park in a secured area. Chase said the officer falsified the report, prompting her fellow Republican senators to write to the Capitol Police chief expressing their support for “every one of your officers.” Chase denied cursing at the officer but later admitted she did use the F-word. As recently as Wednesday, Chase continued litigating the issue on her Facebook page, saying the officer “neglected her responsibility to ensure my safety as a member of the General Assembly.”

Chase publicly feuded with a campaign vendor a week ago after a Facebook ad with the senator holding a gun said: “I’m not afraid to shoot down gun groups.” Chase said she never approved the wording, recorded a call with a vendor employee who agreed, and demanded an apology. But the vendor’s president refused, saying Chase had approved the language.

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Veteran political analyst Bob Holsworth said Chase hasn’t endeared herself with some of the Republican establishment in Chesterfield. “Over time, the local government response to her in Chesterfield has not been very positive,” Holsworth said.

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[Chase's Democratic challenger Amanda] Pohl has shown that she’s able to raise money.

She raised about $50,000 more than Chase in the last reporting period, covering July and August, and had about $26,000 more in hand on Aug. 31. Chase has raised more money overall; almost half of the $356,189 in contributions came between Jan. 1, 2016, just after her last campaign, and the end of last year. In contrast, Pohl raised $251,677 this year, including 1,440 donations of less than $100 each.  See below from the Richmond Times-Dispatch: 

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Richmond Times-Dispatch: For Senator Chase, conflicts of her own making come in key election year

By Patrick Wilson and Michael Martz

September 28, 2019

After ousting a 21-year incumbent in a Republican primary four years ago and cruising into the General Assembly, state Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, is seeking a second term in what, on paper, is a conservative district. But conflicts of her own making have hindered some of her Republican support heading into the Nov. 5 election.

How much those conflicts affect her future is up to voters, but Democrats are making a spirited run with a first-time candidate, Amanda Pohl, who has outraised Chase this year and had more money in the bank at the end of August.

“The race is competitive because folks want someone in office who represents our shared community values,” Pohl said in an interview.

Chase is touting her record in her term in the Senate, along with her conservative credentials.

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But distracting from her record are a series of dramas this year:

Chase used the Capitol Police for transportation so frequently during this year’s General Assembly session that its chief asked the House and Senate clerks to remind lawmakers that police were not available to transport them to restaurants or social functions. Chase said no one had ever told her the rules.

In April, a Capitol Police report said Chase cursed at a female African American police officer after Chase tried to park in a secured area. Chase said the officer falsified the report, prompting her fellow Republican senators to write to the Capitol Police chief expressing their support for “every one of your officers.” Chase denied cursing at the officer but later admitted she did use the F-word.

As recently as Wednesday, Chase continued litigating the issue on her Facebook page, saying the officer “neglected her responsibility to ensure my safety as a member of the General Assembly.”

Chase publicly feuded with a campaign vendor a week ago after a Facebook ad with the senator holding a gun said: “I’m not afraid to shoot down gun groups.” Chase said she never approved the wording, recorded a call with a vendor employee who agreed, and demanded an apology. But the vendor’s president refused, saying Chase had approved the language.

Chase’s incident with the Capitol Police officer caused problems with fellow Republican Karl Leonard, a former Chesterfield police major who has been county sheriff since 2014.

Leonard endorsed Chase in 2015, when she easily beat Democrat Wayne Powell, saying then “she stands for all the values we hold dear to our heart.”

This year, he made clear he would not endorse her and he has said Chase implied she could hinder his re-election bid. Read the full article here

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