Rob Chase

Chase earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Eastern Washington University.{{Cite web|author=Ian Smay|title=Republicans McCaslin, Chase leading in Washington's 4th Legislative District, including race for Matt Shea's seat|url=https://www.kens5.com/article/news/politics/four-running-in-matt-shea-former-district/293-d327ff71-7cf5-4e14-9c4c-89aa353c7266|date=November 2, 2020|publisher=KENS|language=en-US|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=April 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402094316/https://www.kens5.com/article/news/politics/four-running-in-matt-shea-former-district/293-d327ff71-7cf5-4e14-9c4c-89aa353c7266|url-status=live}}

Chase is a former real estate agent.{{Cite web|author=Kip Hill|title=Former Spokane County Treasurer Rob Chase files as Republican to challenge Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/feb/15/former-spokane-county-treasurer-rob-chase-files-as/|date=February 15, 2020|access-date=December 27, 2020|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029000011/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/feb/15/former-spokane-county-treasurer-rob-chase-files-as/|url-status=live}} In 2002, he unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Libertarian Party candidate against Republican incumbent George Nethercutt; in the 2002 blanket primary, he won 5% of the vote. In 2010, Chase won election as Spokane County treasurer; as a write-in candidate, he qualified in the primary election for the general election ballot, and went on to defeat Democratic incumbent Skip Chillberg. He was reelected to the position in 2014, defeating fellow Republican Mary Kuney.Amy Edelen, [https://apnews.com/article/179c53e76fd147a4a3542f0436acc739 Kuney defeats Chase for seat on Spokane County Commission] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402094240/https://apnews.com/article/179c53e76fd147a4a3542f0436acc739 |date=2022-04-02 }}, Associated Press (November 7, 2018). He worked for Ron Paul's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012 in Eastern Washington. During his time as county treasurer, Chase was one of the chief proponents of a public entity bid to acquire Avista, either by an electric cooperative or by a special-purpose district,Jim Camden, [https://apnews.com/article/79c221bb328846ecab5a00b19892e44a Plan for public group to buy Avista has major obstacles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402094238/https://apnews.com/article/79c221bb328846ecab5a00b19892e44a |date=2022-04-02 }}, Associated Press (December 15, 2018). and he tried to block Avista's sale to Hydro One.[https://apnews.com/article/f6617b497a534c79a239d64b46d1e5d6 Spokane County treasurers tries to stop Avista sale] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402094239/https://apnews.com/article/f6617b497a534c79a239d64b46d1e5d6 |date=2022-04-02 }}, Associated Press (September 16, 2018).

In 2018, Chase ran for Spokane County Commission, but was defeated by Kuney. In 2020, he announced that he would challenge incumbent Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers in the Republican primary for Washington's 5th congressional district. He later dropped out of that race to run for Washington House of Representatives instead.Doug Nadvornick, [https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/post/chase-gurel-run-open-seat-wa-fourth-legislative-district#stream/0 Chase, Gurel Run For Open Seat In WA Fourth Legislative District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005214415/https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/post/chase-gurel-run-open-seat-wa-fourth-legislative-district#stream/0 |date=2021-10-05 }}, Spokane Public Radio (October 16, 2020).{{Cite web|last=Nadvornick|first=Doug|title=SPR Campaign Interview: Republican House Candidate Rob Chase|url=https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/post/spr-campaign-interview-republican-house-candidate-rob-chase|access-date=2020-12-27|publisher=Spokane Public Radio|language=en|archive-date=2020-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020065256/https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/post/spr-campaign-interview-republican-house-candidate-rob-chase|url-status=live}} He defeated Democratic nominee Lance Gurel in the November 2020 general election.Roger Harnack, [https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/story/2020/11/04/news/chase-running-away-with-4th-legislative-district-seat/22243.html Chase running away with 4th Legislative District seat: Former Spokane County Auditor backs Liberty state effort] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005214415/https://www.ritzvillejournal.com/story/2020/11/04/news/chase-running-away-with-4th-legislative-district-seat/22243.html |date=2021-10-05 }}, Cheney Free Press (November 6, 2020). Chase's district, the Fourth Legislative District, covers the communities of Spokane Valley, Washington and Liberty Lake; parts of Mead; and northwest Spokane County.Kip Hill, [https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jul/21/state-rep-rob-chases-anti-vaccine-comments-removed/ State Rep. Rob Chase's anti-vaccine comments removed from Facebook, called 'false information'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005194125/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jul/21/state-rep-rob-chases-anti-vaccine-comments-removed/ |date=2021-10-05 }}, Spokesman-Review (July 21, 2021).

Chase is a vocal supporter of Matt Shea, a Washington state representative who was expelled from the House Republican Caucus after an independent investigation determined that Shea participated in acts of domestic terrorism. Chase holds the state House seat formerly held by Shea. In 2020, Chase said, "I stand by Matt Shea. I don't think he did anything illegal." Chase supports the creation of a create a new 51st state (the "State of Liberty") to be formed by the secession of Eastern Washington from the rest of the state, an idea previously promoted by Shea; Chase introduced legislation for Eastern Washington secession in 2021.Katherine Barner, [https://www.khq.com/news/2-eastern-washington-reps-proposing-bill-to-split-state-in-half-creating-51st-state-liberty/article_0a5badea-59de-11eb-88ea-3bce92a0100e.html 2 eastern Washington Reps. proposing bill to split state in half, creating 51st state 'Liberty'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006145524/https://www.khq.com/news/2-eastern-washington-reps-proposing-bill-to-split-state-in-half-creating-51st-state-liberty/article_0a5badea-59de-11eb-88ea-3bce92a0100e.html |date=2021-10-06 }}, KHQ-TV (January 18, 2021).Nick Bowman, [https://mynorthwest.com/2478213/eastern-washington-secession-bill-2021/ With Matt Shea out, yearly push for Eastern Washington secession gets new co-sponsors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006145523/https://mynorthwest.com/2478213/eastern-washington-secession-bill-2021/ |date=2021-10-06 }}, KIRO-FM (January 18, 2021).

Chase has previously promoted various extremist conspiracy theories; in online writings, he has promoted QAnon, birtherism, and chemtrails.Daniel Walters, [https://www.inlander.com/spokane/matt-shea-endorsed-candidate-rob-chase-dabbles-in-qanon-9-11-and-other-wild-conspiracy-theories/Content?oid=20165927 Matt Shea-endorsed candidate Rob Chase dabbles in QAnon, 9/11 and other wild conspiracy theories] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005204516/https://www.inlander.com/spokane/matt-shea-endorsed-candidate-rob-chase-dabbles-in-qanon-9-11-and-other-wild-conspiracy-theories/Content?oid=20165927 |date=2021-10-05 }}, Inlander (August 27, 220). In 2019, Chase shared a link on Facebook to a report baselessly claiming that the September 11 attacks were an inside job involving "the Zionists" and others, and that the "Boston Bombing, Sandy Hook, Orlando, San Bernardino, and Las Vegas" attacks were all "false flag" hoaxes.

After taking office in 2021, Chase hired Cecily Wright, the former chair of the Spokane County Republican Party and a longtime associate, as his legislative assistant. Wright was ousted from her chairmanship of the county party in 2018, after she defended white nationalist James Allsup, who had been unseated as a Whitman County precinct committee officer after he marched at the violent far-right Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. Chase defended Wright as having "a good reputation" and being "dependable and loyal."Emma Epperly, [https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jan/19/state-rep-rob-chase-hires-former-spokane-gop-chair/ New state Rep. Rob Chase hires former Spokane County GOP chairwoman who resigned after defending white nationalist] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005201145/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jan/19/state-rep-rob-chase-hires-former-spokane-gop-chair/ |date=2021-10-05 }}, Spokesman-Review (January 19, 2021).

Chase has pushed Donald Trump's false claim that the 2020 presidential election was marred by fraud.{{Cite web|last=Brunner|first=Jim|date=2021-08-13|title=Washington Republican legislators push election fraud narrative at hearing on Sunday|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/washington-republican-legislators-push-election-fraud-narrative-at-hearing-on-sunday//|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-15|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814212253/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/washington-republican-legislators-push-election-fraud-narrative-at-hearing-on-sunday/}} Although no evidence supports this claim, in August 2021, Chase and four other state Republican lawmakers (Robert Sutherland, Jim Walsh, Vicki Kraft, and Bob McCaslin Jr.) held an unofficial hearing at a Snohomish, Washington church calling for "forensic audit" to take place in Washington State similar to the criticized Arizona audit. The organizers of the event invited speakers who have falsely claimed voter fraud. Trump was defeated by Joe Biden in Washington state by almost 785,000 votes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chase promoted COVID-19 misinformation.Wilson Criscione and Nate Sanford, [https://www.inlander.com/spokane/we-asked-more-than-65-local-politicians-if-they-were-vaccinated-for-covid-19-heres-what-they-said/Content?oid=22219328 We asked more than 65 local politicians if they were vaccinated for COVID-19. Here's what they said] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005214407/https://www.inlander.com/spokane/we-asked-more-than-65-local-politicians-if-they-were-vaccinated-for-covid-19-heres-what-they-said/Content?oid=22219328 |date=2021-10-05 }}, Inlander (August 26, 2021). In a July 2021 Facebook post, Chase compared the COVID-19 vaccines to Nazi medical experimentation and falsely claimed that the COVID-19 vaccine "is not a vaccine"; that the vaccine "is not tested"; that the vaccine was the result of a nefarious conspiracy orchestrated by George Soros; and there are many "natural cures" for COVID-19. None of these claims are true.

In 2022, Chase was unseated by businessman and former appointed representative Leonard Christian.https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/nov/08/challenger-christian-leading-in-4th-legislative-di/ Christian attributed his victory to Chase's far-right views.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

In 2024, Chase was reelected to the Fourth Legislative District.{{Cite web |last=Cornfield |first=Laurel Demkovich, Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero, Jerry |date=2025-01-03 |title=Meet the new faces of the 2025 legislative session • Washington State Standard |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/01/02/meet-the-new-faces-of-the-2025-legislative-session/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Washington State Standard |language=en-US}}

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• [https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=3215 Rob Chase at ourcampaigns.com]

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Category:Living people

Category:People from Spokane County, Washington

Category:Eastern Washington University alumni

Category:Republican Party members of the Washington House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature

Category:Businesspeople from Washington (state)

Category:Politicians from Spokane, Washington

Category:People from Spokane Valley, Washington

Category:1953 births