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Independent Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee to run as a Democrat Independent Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee to run as a Democrat
(4 months later)
Independent Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee is joining the Democratic Party before his bid for a second term, two Democratic officials said Thursday.Independent Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee is joining the Democratic Party before his bid for a second term, two Democratic officials said Thursday.
Chafee served in the US Senate as a Republican but left the GOP in 2007. He was elected as the nation's only independent governor in 2010.Chafee served in the US Senate as a Republican but left the GOP in 2007. He was elected as the nation's only independent governor in 2010.
The officials said Chafee plans to change his registration to join the party. They weren't authorized to disclose the information publicly ahead of any announcement from Chafee and spoke on condition of anonymity. Chafee's staff did not immediately confirm his plan.The officials said Chafee plans to change his registration to join the party. They weren't authorized to disclose the information publicly ahead of any announcement from Chafee and spoke on condition of anonymity. Chafee's staff did not immediately confirm his plan.
Chafee has been saying for months that he was thinking about the switch, noting that he shares many positions with Democrats and that joining the party will help with fundraising. He is a supporter of President Barack Obama and spoke at last year's Democratic national convention.Chafee has been saying for months that he was thinking about the switch, noting that he shares many positions with Democrats and that joining the party will help with fundraising. He is a supporter of President Barack Obama and spoke at last year's Democratic national convention.
The move further complicates next year's Democratic primary and sets up the possibility of a three-way match-up with Providence mayor Angel Taveras and treasurer Gina Raimondo.The move further complicates next year's Democratic primary and sets up the possibility of a three-way match-up with Providence mayor Angel Taveras and treasurer Gina Raimondo.
Registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in Rhode Island more than three to one, although most voters aren't affiliated with any party.Registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in Rhode Island more than three to one, although most voters aren't affiliated with any party.
Chafee is son of the late US senator John Chafee, a former governor whose name was synonymous with the Republican Party in Rhode Island for decades. When John Chafee died in office in 1999, Lincoln Chafee was appointed to fill his seat, and then won re-election to the post the following year. In the Senate, he voted to the left of many Democrats, opposing the war in Iraq, for example, and supporting the legalization of same-sex marriage. But he stuck it out as a Republican through his 2006 re-election campaign, which he lost to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.Chafee is son of the late US senator John Chafee, a former governor whose name was synonymous with the Republican Party in Rhode Island for decades. When John Chafee died in office in 1999, Lincoln Chafee was appointed to fill his seat, and then won re-election to the post the following year. In the Senate, he voted to the left of many Democrats, opposing the war in Iraq, for example, and supporting the legalization of same-sex marriage. But he stuck it out as a Republican through his 2006 re-election campaign, which he lost to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.
He left the party in 2007 and became an independent. He made his political comeback in 2010, winning a four-way race for governor with 36% of the vote.He left the party in 2007 and became an independent. He made his political comeback in 2010, winning a four-way race for governor with 36% of the vote.
As governor, Chafee has struggled with poor approval ratings, and some of his policy proposals have fizzled in the face of opposition in the general assembly, such as an early plan to expand the sales tax.As governor, Chafee has struggled with poor approval ratings, and some of his policy proposals have fizzled in the face of opposition in the general assembly, such as an early plan to expand the sales tax.
Chafee is a reluctant fundraiser, and he has often depended on personal wealth to fund his campaigns. He told the Associated Press in December that he was considering joining the Democrats to help his chances of winning a second term.Chafee is a reluctant fundraiser, and he has often depended on personal wealth to fund his campaigns. He told the Associated Press in December that he was considering joining the Democrats to help his chances of winning a second term.
"There is no independent governors' association throwing money around … but there is a Democratic governors association," he said at the time."There is no independent governors' association throwing money around … but there is a Democratic governors association," he said at the time.
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