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Virginia Republican announces gubernatorial run

Amanda Chase, Mark Peake
State Sens. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, left, and Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, look over the budget proposals during a break in the Senate session at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia Republican state senator says she’s running for governor next year as an unabashed conservative on a platform of promoting gun rights.

Sen. Amanda Chase, of Chesterfield County, announced her candidacy Monday to a crowd of about 100 outside the Capitol on Monday, saying voters were unhappy with the state’s new liberal direction under a Democratic majority.

Current Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, is not able to seek a consecutive term under state law.

A populist who often clashes with members of her own party, Chase represents a conservative district near Richmond and easily won reelection last year. But she faces strong headwinds in a statewide race.

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