‘Trump in heels’ loses election bid

Amanda Chase previously censured by colleagues for defence of Jan 6 rioters

A Virginia Republican who describes herself as “Trump in heels” has lost her latest election bid in the state.

Incumbent state Senator Amanda Chase was narrowly defeated by Glen Sturtevant in the GOP’s Virginia state Senate primary.

The race was called earlier this week for Mr Sturtevant, who previously served in the Virginia Senate until 2020, by The Associated Press. The race was required after redistricting in the state.

Ms Chase, who attended the January 6 rally for former president Donald Trump in Washington DC, was previously censured by the state Senate for a string of incendiary remarks and election denials.

She says she did not take part in the violent riot that followed and that she was driving home when it took place.

But Ms Chase later praised those who attacked the US Capitol and breached the building, insisting they were not “rioters and looters.”

“These were patriots who loved their country and do not want to see our great republic turned into a socialist country,” she said. “I was there with the people. I know.”

The Justice Department has said that it believes more than 2,000 people were involved in the riot, and more than 1,000 defendants from all 50 states have been charged in connection with it.

She was defeated for the Republican nomination for Virginia governor in 2021 and called for Mr Trump to declare martial law to prevent Joe Biden from being sworn in as president.

She has also drawn attention for openly carrying a firearm during senate sessions, and becoming embroiled in an altercation with a Virginia Capitol police officer over a parking spot.

Following her latest defeat, Ms Chase appears to be following the Trump playbook of questioning the legality of her loss.

She told WWBT on Thursday that her campaign should have been allowed in the room to watch the certification of machines ahead of early voting.“Right now, we’re in the process of raising money to hire a good attorney that can give us the legal counsel that we need,” Ms Chase told the station.

“We know that the state law has been violated, clearly. So now we’re going to hold people accountable,” she said.

Chesterfield Voter Registrar Missy Vera told the station that her office had complied with state law, which states that each political party may have one representative present during the machine certification process.