Virginia Mercury
Virginia State Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, arrives in the temporary Senate chambers at the Science Museum of Virginia prior to the start of the Senate session at the facility Tuesday Aug. 18, 2020. Chase is the only member of the Senate who refused to wear a mask during the legislative session. (AP Photo/Steve Helber/Pool)
Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, is running a hard-right campaign for governor, but before she takes on any Democrats, sheâs battling leaders of her own party.
The state GOP voted last weekend to select its candidate for governor in a convention rather than an open primary, prompting Chase to threaten to enter the race as an independent unless the party reverses course.