State Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield
Claiming that the Republican Party of Virginia has “held the process hostage,” state Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, a GOP gubernatorial hopeful, has filed suit against the state GOP over its decision to hold a convention in May instead of a primary to select its 2021 candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Chase’s attorney, Tim Anderson of Virginia Beach, filed the lawsuit on Chase’s behalf against the Republican Party of Virginia on Tuesday in Richmond Circuit Court. He is seeking an emergency hearing and a temporary injunction by Feb. 23 — the state deadline for both parties to notify the State Board of Elections of their nomination process plans.
In an email statement, Chase said Tuesday that the GOP “has chosen a method that is illegal under the governor’s current executive orders and is secretly planning to choose the statewide nominees themselves, bypassing the people of Virginia. I will not stand for this.” She declared also that the state party’s plans amount to “socialism,” by allowing only a few people in power to decide on candidates.
