Republican gubernatorial candidate calls for Trump to declare martial law
State senator refutes results, praises president for having a ‘backbone’ in online post
RICHMOND — State Sen. Amanda Chase, a Republican running for Virginia governor in 2021, has called on President Donald Trump in a Facebook post to declare martial law in the United States to keep him in office and refute November’s election results.
Chase, who represents Colonial Heights, Amelia County and parts of Chesterfield County, wrote in her post Tuesday that Democrats legalized cheating at the polls “under the guise of covid.”
Trump has refused to concede the race even after electoral college delegates cast their votes Monday, confirming Joe Biden as the winner of November’s presidential election.
“We know you cheated to win and we’ll never accept these results. Fair elections we can accept but cheating to win; never. It’s not over yet,” she wrote. “So thankful President Trump has a backbone and refuses to concede. President Trump should declare martial law as recommended by General Flynn.”
Several Virginia politicians spoke out against Chase’s statement, suggesting her rhetoric is hurtful to the democratic process. Chase, a member of Virginia’s Senate since 2016, has at times been at odds with GOP leaders and spoke at a gun rights rally featuring far-right anti-government group in July.
Former Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox, who is running against Chase for the GOP nomination in the governor’s race, released a written statement responding to
Chase’s post and affirmed Biden’s victory.
“Senator Chase’s suggestion that martial law be imposed is absurd and dangerous. I taught government for 30 years and have great respect for our constitutional republic,” Cox wrote.
“Per that system and the electoral college vote yesterday, Joe Biden will be the next President.”
Invoking martial law would hand over all government and civilian control to the military, according to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service. It has historically been used in times of war and civil unrest.
U. S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton, a Democrat representing Virginia’s 10th District, criticized Chase on Twitter.
“I served with @AmandaChaseVA in the state senate — she was as unhinged then as she is now,” Wexton wrote. “This is a good reminder that we don’t allow tyrants here in the Commonwealth.”