Lincoln Chafee

Lincoln Chafee
74th Governor of Rhode Island
In office
January 4, 2011 – January 6, 2015
Lieutenant Elizabeth H. Roberts
Preceded by Donald Carcieri
Succeeded by Gina Raimondo
United States Senator
from Rhode Island
In office
November 4, 1999 – January 3, 2007
Appointed by Lincoln Almond
Preceded by John Chafee
Succeeded by Sheldon Whitehouse
Mayor of Warwick
In office
1992–1999
Preceded by Charles Donovan
Succeeded by Scott Avedisian
Personal details
Born Lincoln Davenport Chafee
March 26, 1953
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political party Republican (1999–2007)
Independent (2007–2013)
Democratic (2013–present)
Spouse(s) Stephanie Chafee
Children Louisa
Caleb
Thea
Alma mater Brown University
Montana State University, Bozeman
Religion Episcopalian

Lincoln Davenport Chafee (/ˈtʃeɪfiː/; born March 26, 1953) is an American politician who served as the 74th Governor of Rhode Island from January 2011 to January 2015. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until 2007. That same year, he left the Republican Party and became an independent.[1] He was the first independent to serve as Governor of Rhode Island since John Collins, who served 1786–1790. On May 29, 2013, he announced he was switching his registration to the Democratic Party.[2] On September 4, 2013, facing low approval ratings, Chafee announced that he would not seek re-election to a second term as Governor.[3]

A Rhode Island native educated at Phillips Academy and Brown University, Chafee worked as a professional farrier for seven years before entering state politics in 1985. He then became a delegate to the Rhode Island State Constitutional Convention, a member of the Warwick, Rhode Island city council, and later the mayor of Warwick (2010 census population: 82,672). Chafee was appointed to the United States Senate in 1999 upon the death of his father, Senator John Chafee, and was elected in the 2000 Senate election for a full six-year term. In 2006, he ran for re-election but lost to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.

Chafee was a supporter of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential bid and was a co-chair of Obama's re-election campaign. On January 4, 2010, Chafee declared his intent to run for Governor of Rhode Island.[4] Prior to entering the gubernatorial race, he was a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies.

On April 9, 2015, Chafee announced that he was exploring a run for President of the United States as a Democrat in 2016.[5]

Early life, education, and racing career

Chafee was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Virginia (née Coates) and John Chafee.[6] Chafee's great-great-grandfather, Henry Lippitt, was Governor of Rhode Island. Among his great-great-uncles are Rhode Island Governor Charles Warren Lippitt and United States Senator Henry Frederick Lippitt. His great-uncle, Zechariah Chafee, was a Harvard law professor and a notable civil libertarian. The Chafee family was among the earliest settlers of Hingham, Massachusetts, before moving south to Rhode Island.[7]

He attended public schools in Warwick, Rhode Island, Providence Country Day School, and Phillips Academy. At Brown University, Chafee captained the wrestling team, and in 1975 earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classics. He then attended the Montana State University horseshoeing school in Bozeman. For the next seven years, he worked as a farrier at harness racetracks in the United States and Canada. One of the horses he shod, Overburden, set the track record at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta.

Local politics (1985–1999)

Chafee entered politics in 1985 as a delegate to the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention. A year later, he was elected to the Warwick City Council, where he served until his election as Warwick's mayor in 1992, a post he held until his 1999 appointment to the U.S. Senate.

United States Senate (1999–2007)

Appointment

After his father announced he would not seek re-election in 2000, Lincoln Chafee announced he would run for the seat.[8] When John Chafee died suddenly in October 1999, Governor Lincoln Almond appointed the younger Chafee to serve out the term.

Elections

2000

He was elected to a full six-year term in 2000, defeating Democratic candidate then-U.S. Representative Robert Weygand by a 57%–41% in the heavily Democratic state. His campaign slogan was "A tradition of trust", which many felt was a reference to his father's service as a U.S. Senator in this same seat.[9]

2006

In September 2005, Steve Laffey, the mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island, announced his intention to run against Chafee in the Republican primary election. Among other stances differing from those of Chafee, Mayor Laffey opposed abortion and stem cell research. Laffey was supported by notable conservative groups including the Club for Growth and several Ohio-based anti-abortion groups. Chafee went on to defeat Laffey in the primary on September 12 by a margin of 53%-47%, an unusually close margin for an incumbent Senator. The turnout for the Republican primary was the largest in Rhode Island history. In his victory speech, Chafee credited independent voters and disaffiliated Democrats for his victory.[10]

Despite Chafee's high approval ratings statewide, the state had tended to lean heavily toward socially liberal or moderate candidates for many decades. As a result, Whitehouse succeeded by attacking the instances in which Chafee supported his party's conservative congressional leadership (whose personalities and policies were very unpopular, statewide).

Chafee was defeated by Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse in the general election, 54%-46%. In response to a question at a news conference on November 9, 2006, Chafee stated he was unsure whether he would remain in the Republican Party after serving out the remainder of his term. According to Michelle R. Smith of the Associated Press, when asked whether he felt that his loss may have helped the country by switching control of power in Congress (toward liberal Democrats and away from conservative Republicans), he replied: "To be honest, yes."[11]

Tenure

Descended from a long line of moderate, center-right New England Republicans, Chafee's liberal stances as a Republican led to some conservatives to refer to him as a "Republican In Name Only", or RINO. Most notable among these was Human Events magazine, which named Chafee "the No. 1 RINO in the country."[12] The National Journal has rated Chafee as The Least Conservative Republican in the Senate, and placed him to the left of two Democrats, Nebraska's Ben Nelson and Louisiana's Mary Landrieu (the only Republican ranked to the left of the latter senator).[13]

Known for often disagreeing with the Republican Party leadership, Chafee says he did not cast his ballot for President George W. Bush in the 2004 election, instead choosing to write in former president George H. W. Bush as a nod to the Republican Party of his father.[14] Chafee frequently criticized the younger Bush's record on the environment, and expressed concern about the 2004 Republican platform and overall philosophical direction of the party. He described the younger Bush's presidency as "an agenda of energizing the far-right-wing base, which is divisive."[15] Soon thereafter, he rejected Democratic overtures to leave the Republican Party after appeals to him from other Republican senators to remain in their caucus.[16] Chafee considered challenging George W. Bush for re-nomination in the New Hampshire primary in 2004 on an anti- (Iraq and Afghanistan) war platform. In his autobiography, Against the Tide (2007), he states that "In the fall of 2003, part of me thought it was cowardly to oppose the president on so many issues and then not oppose him head-on as he sought renomination." However, he decided not to run after the capture of Saddam Hussein on December 13, 2003.[17]

Fiscal policy

Chafee opposes eliminating the federal estate tax. Chafee also voted against both the 2001 and 2003 congressional budget bills that cut and/or rebated individuals' federal income taxes. He pointed out that tax cuts reduce revenue to the federal government, thereby worsening the federal budget deficit and increasing the amount of money it has to borrow in order to operate.

On November 17, 2005, he was the only Republican to vote in favor of reinstating the top federal income tax rate of 39.6% (which last existed under President Bill Clinton in the 1990s) on the highest-income taxpayers.

Chafee was one of the few Republicans to vote against allowing drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and was a member of the Republicans for Environmental Protection. He has been endorsed throughout his career by the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters.

Chafee favors increased federal funding for health care, and supports an increase in the federal minimum wage. In 2003, Chafee voted against the Medicare Part D prescription drug expansion. However, Chafee also cast a crucial procedural vote against a Democratic attempt to kill that bill, which failed by only two votes.[18] Chafee also co-sponsored the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, which expanded federal jurisdiction over class-action lawsuits, and voted against a wholesale ban on gifts from employees of lobbying companies.[19]

Some Chafee's positions considered to be within the mainstream of the current Republican Party include his support of free trade agreements (e.g., North American Free Trade Agreement and Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA);[20] Bankruptcy Reform; the partial privatization of Social Security;[21] and the USA Patriot Act.

Social policy

Chafee was a member of the Republican Majority for Choice and Republicans for Choice. Chafee was also a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership

Chafee is pro-choice.[22] In 2003, Chafee was one of the three Republican Senators to oppose the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. His 2005 senatorial re-election bid was endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America. He also supported federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Chafee is a supporter and was one of three Republican senators to come out for same-sex marriage.

He supports affirmative action and gun control, and was one of only two Republicans to vote against the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (which prevents firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable for crimes committed with their products. On June 27, 2006, Chafee was one of only three Republicans to vote against the proposed Flag Desecration Amendment.

Chafee opposes the death penalty, and has consistently voted against limiting death penalty appeals in federal cases. He has also favored including racial statistics in death penalty appeals, and making DNA analysis a prerequisite for any federal-level, criminal executions.

On May 23, 2005, Chafee was one of 14 bipartisan senators to forge a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial filibuster, forestalling the Republican leadership's implementation of the so-called "nuclear option". Under the agreement, the Democrats would retain the power to filibuster a Bush II judicial nominee only in an "extraordinary circumstance", and three of the most conservative Bush appellate court nominees (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen and William Pryor) would receive a vote by the full Senate. Chafee was the only Republican to oppose George W. Bush's nomination of Samuel Alito to the United States Supreme Court. However, he voted to end debate on the nomination, helping to end any chance of a Democratic filibuster of it.[23] Chafee did not announce his opposition to the nomination until a majority of Senators had already publicly said they would support Alito.[24]

Foreign policy

Chafee was the only Republican in the Senate to vote against authorization of the use of force in Iraq. On June 22, 2006, he was the only Republican to vote for the Levin amendment calling for a nonbinding timetable for a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.[25] Chafee voted against the Kerry-Feingold amendment calling for a binding timetable.

Chafee is now involved in J Street, a liberal Jewish group that calls for Israel to withdraw from all occupied territories and advocates for a "two state" solution to the Arab–Israeli conflict.

In November 2006, immediately following the midterm elections, Chafee joined key Democrats in opposing President Bush's renomination of John Bolton as United States Ambassador to the United Nations. On December 4, 2006, the White House announced that Bolton would no longer seek the appointment, and would resign within a matter of weeks.

Committee assignments

Political hiatus (2007–2009)

Lincoln Chafee delivers a lecture during his time at Brown University in 2007

In December 2006, Chafee announced he was accepting a fellowship to serve as a "distinguished visiting fellow" at Brown University's Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies. The university had Chafee lead a student group studying U.S. foreign policy.[28]

In the September 2007, Chafee officially left the Republican Party, changing his affiliation to Independent. He said that he did so because of the Republican Party's increasing conservatism, and particularly cited their reductions in funding to programs assisting middle- and low-income ciitizens (e.g., Pell Grants and Head Start)[29] In February 2008, he said he was considering voting for then-Senator Barack Obama in Rhode Island's Democratic presidential primary election.[30] On February 14, with the Rhode Island Democratic primary approaching in three weeks, Chafee officially endorsed Obama.[31] In 2012, he was one of 35 co-chairs selected to "act as key surrogates and ambassadors" for Obama's re-election campaign.[32]

In 2008, Chafee joined the advisory board of J Street, a lobbying group that promotes diplomatic relations between Israel and its neighbors, and supports an independent Palestinian state.[33]

In September 2008, Chafee received media attention for describing Sarah Palin, then-Governor of Alaska and the Republican vice-presidential nominee in the 2008 presidential election, as a "cocky wacko".[34]

Governor of Rhode Island (2011–2015)

2010 election

On January 4, 2010 Chafee formally declared his intention to run for Governor of Rhode Island in 2010 as an independent, [35] as the incumbent Governor Donald Carcieri (a Republican re-elected the same day Chafee lost his Senate re-election bid) was term-limited at the time. On October 31, 2010, electoral analysis site FiveThirtyEight.com gave Chafee a 63.8% chance of victory, compared to Democratic opponent Frank Caprio's 26.2% and Republican opponent John Robitaille's 10.0%.[36] Likewise, other sites, such as the Cook Political Report, classified the race as a "toss-up".[37] Chafee's approval rating at the time of his 2006 defeat was between 51% and 63%.[38][39]

On September 16, 2010, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (who had also switched from Republican to Independent in recent years) traveled to Rhode Island. Bloomberg praised Chafee's "experience and integrity", saying that Chafee would put Rhode Islanders' interests "ahead of party interests", and that Chafee would "produce results -— because that's exactly what he did as a mayor and as senator."[40]

It was reported that President Obama's lack of endorsement of any of the candidates indicated tacit support of Chafee over Democratic challenger Frank T. Caprio.[41]

Chafee easily won the endorsements of all major public school teachers unions, including the Rhode Island affiliates of the National Education Association[42] and American Federation of Teachers[43] in his 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

On November 2, 2010, Chafee won the gubernatorial race, winning with a 36% plurality in the seven-candidate race.

Switch to the Democratic Party

In November 2011, it was reported that Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, had asked Chafee to join the Democratic Party. When asked if he was considering it, Chafee responded, "I'm happy where I am for now."[44]

In August 2012, he announced plans to attend the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, to show support for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.[45] After constant speculation during his term, Chafee officially joined the Democratic Party on May 30, 2013. He had previously indicated that he might run for re-election as an Independent or a Democrat.[46]

Fiscal issues

A 2012 Poll showed that some of Chafee's proposed tax increases, intended to move the state from budget deficit to surplus status, had received negative feedback from Rhode Island residents. The majority of constituents opposed Chafee's proposed increase in driver's license and registration fees (67.5 percent), restoring tolls on the Sakonnet River bridge (57 percent), rasing the restaurant meals-and-beverage tax, and even putting a new tax on medical devices and donations to charity.[47]

Social issues

On December 20, 2010, Chafee's spokesman Michael Trainor told Providence Journal that Chafee would skip Episcopalian services on January 4, 2011, to be at home with his family. Trainor elaborated, saying: "His point of view is that his Inauguration Day needs to respect the separation of church and state. Separation of church and state is an important constitutional principle."

In May 2012, Chafee resisted turning over a case to the U.S. Supreme Court due to his views on the death penalty. In regards to the case, which would likely result in a capital punishment ruling, Chafee said: "The State of Rhode Island must seek to protect both the strong states' rights issues at stake, and the legitimacy of its longstanding public policy against the death penalty."[48] His incarceration will cost Rhode Island taxpayers, $3,003,225[49]

On May 1, 2013, Chafee signed a bill that legalized same-sex marriage in Rhode Island.[50]

Chafee has shown some willingness to deviate from strict "War on Drugs" policies, in favor of alternative approaches to America's drug-crime problem.[51]

Education

On "education reform" in general, Chafee does not believe the politically and publicly popular presumption that America's schools are failing, saying:

This notion of all these failing schools, if this were true, how did America get to be at the status where we are in the world if it were that bad? So I don’t buy into the trashing of our public school system. Somehow Brown University, and University of Rhode Island and Bryant University, Providence College are full of public school students that are doing very, very well and leading America in many fields. Yes, there's room for improvement, I don't deny that and I want to be part of the improvement. But the notion that our public school systems are in disarray and failing, I don't buy that.[52]

Chafee opposes charter schools, saying, "I am wary of charter schools undermining and cherry picking and skimming off the top of our public school system."[52]

Chafee is "wary" of Race to the Top, "because Race to the Top includes money for charter schools".[52] He says he would ask federal officials "what kind of flexibility we might have" to alter Race to the Top, were he elected Governor.[53]

Christmas Tree controversy

The Rhode Island State House Christmas tree

In 2011 and 2012, Chafee stirred up controversy over the Christmas tree at the Rhode Island State House. Governor Chafee called the towering fir, decorated with lights, tinsel and toys, a "holiday tree," insisting that "I’m representing all of Rhode Island, I have to be respectful of everyone."[54] He made a comparison to the National Christmas Tree, insisting that the White House has a "White House Tree", and not a Christmas Tree.[55] One Rhode Island legislator called Chafee a "grinch" during the 2012 controversy over whether the statehouse tree would be called a Christmas tree or a Holiday tree.[56] After a long battle among his state's residents, Chafee announced in December 2013 that the tree in the State House would be called a Christmas tree, instead of a "holiday tree".[57]

2014 election

Chafee had previously indicated that he might run for re-election as an Independent or a Democrat.[46] In the face of low approval ratings, polling showing him trailing in both the Democratic primary and the general election, and with weak fundraising, Chafee announced on September 4, 2013 that he would not run for re-election.[58][59] Chafee thus became just the fourth Governor in the history of Rhode Island to decline to seek a second term, after Byron Diman in 1847, Royal C. Taft in 1889 and William S. Flynn in 1924.[60]

Possible 2016 Presidential campaign

On April 9, 2015, Chafee announced that he was exploring a run for President of the United States as a Democrat in 2016.

Political positions

While serving in the U.S. Senate, Chafee was characterized as a "moderate Republican." Later, as governor of Rhode Island, he pursued a centrist agenda that alienated special interests on both the left and right, "from unions to the state's Roman Catholic bishop." He has called for moderation and deescalation in U.S. foreign policy, combined with pragmatic fiscal conservatism, and liberal social policies.

Personal life

Chafee and his wife, Stephanie D. Chafee, have three children: Louisa, Caleb and Thea.

Electoral history

Rhode Island Gubernatorial Election 2010[61]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Lincoln Chafee 123,571 36.1
Republican John Robitaille 114,911 33.6
Democratic Frank Caprio 78,896 23.0
Moderate Ken Block 22,146 6.5
Independent Joeseph Lusi 1,091 0.3
Independent Todd Giroux 882 0.3
Independent Ronald Algieri 793 0.2
Rhode Island U.S. Senate Election 2006
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Sheldon Whitehouse 206,110 53.47
Republican Lincoln Chafee (incumbent) 179,001 46.44
Rhode Island U.S. Senate Election 2006 – Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lincoln Chafee (incumbent) 34,934 54.17
Republican Steve Laffey 29,556 45.83
Rhode Island U.S. Senate Election 2000
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lincoln Chafee (incumbent) 222,588 56.88
Democratic Robert Weygand 161,023 41.15
Warwick, Rhode Island Mayoral Election 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lincoln Chafee (incumbent) 17,808 57.56
Democratic George Zainyeh 12,323 39.83

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Chafee quietly quits the GOP". Projo.com. September 16, 2007. Archived from the original on September 19, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  2. ↑ Burns, Alexander (May 29, 2013). "Lincoln Chafee switches affiliation to Democrat". Politico. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130904-r.i.-governor-chafee-will-not-seek-re-election.ece. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ http://www.projo.com/news/efitzpatrick/edward_fitzpatrick_5_01-05-10_9JH0FGE_v16.3014a12.html
  5. ↑ Dann, Carrie. "Lincoln Chafee Says He's Exploring 2016 Run as a Democrat". NBC News. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Chafee family tree". Rootsweb.com. Retrieved July 3, 2008.
  7. ↑ The Chaffee Genealogy, William Henry Chaffee, 1635–1909, The Grafton Press, New York, 1909. Google Books. September 2, 2000. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  8. ↑ Murray, Shailagh (April 14, 2006). "A Republican on the Edge". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  9. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/08/us/the-2000-campaign-rhode-island-chafee-legacy-central-to-a-us-senate-race.html
  10. ↑ "Extra: Election". The Providence Journal. September 13, 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  11. ↑ Smith, Michelle (November 6, 2006). "Chafee unsure of staying with GOP after losing election". Associated Press. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Human Events". Human Events. December 27, 2005. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ "The Good 5 Cent Cigar". Ramcigar.com. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Sen. Chafee considers leaving GOP". USA Today. November 3, 2004. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  16. ↑ . CNN http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/09/republicans.chafee.ap/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑ Lincoln Chafee, Against the Tide (2007), p.119-120
  18. ↑ "Providence | Local News | M. Charles Bakst". Projo.com. December 2, 2003. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Senate Votes on 2006-080". Ontheissues.org. March 29, 2006. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Lincoln Chafee for Senate: Issues2000.org". Ontheissues.org. February 12, 2000. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Lincoln Chafee on Social Security". Ontheissues.org. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  22. ↑ Lincoln Chafee on Abortion OnTheIssues.org
  23. ↑ "Chafee says he will vote against Alito".
  24. ↑ "Alito Filibuster Fails, Confirmation Vote Expected Tuesday". Fox News. January 31, 2006.
  25. ↑ "Roll Call". Senate. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  26. ↑ http://www.epw.senate.gov/members/members.htm
  27. ↑ http://votesmart.org/public-statement/101142/chafee-to-serve-on-senate-committee-on-homeland-security-and-governmental-affairs#.UaZMbJz4Jvo
  28. ↑ Chafee takes fellowship at Brown. December 15, 2006, Providence Journal. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
  29. ↑ Former RI Sen. Lincoln Chafee Leaves GOP. September 16, 2007 Associated Press report. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
  30. ↑ Ex-Republican Chafee considers voting for Obama in R.I. primary. Mark Arsenault, February 8, 2008 The Providence Journal. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
  31. ↑ "Former Rhode Island senator endorses Obama". CNN.com. February 14, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  32. ↑ Tau, Byron (February 22, 2012). "Obama campaign announces co-chairs". Politico. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Supporters". J Street. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  34. ↑ . MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26661483/ns/politics-decision_08/t/former-gop-senator-calls-palin-cocky-wacko/#.TzimFV6KOJM. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  35. ↑ "Chafee to make it official: He is running for governor – Projo 7 to 7 News Blog | Rhode Island news | The Providence Journal". Newsblog.projo.com. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Rhode Island Governor Forecast". Elections.nytimes.com. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  37. ↑ "Cook Political Report – Governors". Cookpolitical.com. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Interviewwith Tom Allen". MyDD. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  39. ↑ "RI Jr Sen Approval". SurveyUSA. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  40. ↑ "Update: NY Mayor Bloomberg visits RI, endorses Chafee/ Video – Projo 7 to 7 News Blog | Rhode Island news | The Providence Journal". Newsblog.projo.com. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  41. ↑ Bidgood, Jess (November 3, 2010). "Lincoln Chafee". New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  42. ↑ on August 25, 2010   (August 25, 2010). "The NEARI Endorses Lincoln Chafee". Rifuture.org. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  43. ↑ "RIFT for Chafee". Riteachers4chafee.com. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  44. ↑ "Democratic governors’ chief woos Chafee to join Obama’s party". WPRI. November 29, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  45. ↑ http://news.providencejournal.com/politics/2012/08/independent-ri-gov-chafee-to-attend-democratic-convention.html
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Klepper, David (December 14, 2012). "RI Gov. Chafee open to running for 2nd term as Dem". Associated Press. Boston.com. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  47. ↑ Armental, Maria (February 23, 2012). "Poll: R.I. Rep. Cicilline's approval rating down to 14.8 percent, Chafee's 22.1 percent". Providence Journal. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  48. ↑ Rivoli, Dan (May 11, 2012). "Death Penalty Causes State-Fed Clash Over Accused Murderer In Rhode Island". Business & Law. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  49. ↑ "Pleau's prison time could cost RI taxpayers $3.1M". iTeam. December 19, 2013.
  50. ↑ "No. 10: Rhode Island Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage". Advocate. May 2, 2013.
  51. ↑ Nadelmann, Ethan (December 27, 2010) Breaking the Taboo, The Nation
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 on September 24, 2010   (September 24, 2010). "Lincoln Chafee on Jobs, the RIEDC, Race to the Top and More". Rifuture.org. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  53. ↑ "3 of 4 candidates for R.I. governor back Gist, Race to the Top, Providence Journal, September 28, 2010". Projo.com. September 28, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  54. ↑ Susman, Tina (November 30, 2012). "'Christmas tree or holiday tree?' issue haunts R.I. lighting ceremony". Los Angeles Times.
  55. ↑ O'Reily, Bill (November 29, 2012). "'O'Reilly battles Gov. Lincoln Chafee over 'holiday tree' '". Fox News.
  56. ↑ McCalmont, Lucy (2 December 2013). "Lincoln Chafee decks Christmas title on tree". Politico. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  57. ↑ McCalmont, OLucy (December 2, 2013). "Lincoln Chafee decks Christmas title on tree". Politico. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  58. ↑ Sullivan, Sean (September 4, 2013). "Why Lincoln Chafee’s decision not to run for reelection is more good news for Democrats". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  59. ↑ Taylor, Jessica (September 4, 2013). "Gov. Chafee won't run for a second term". NBC News. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  60. ↑ Ostermeier, Eric (September 6, 2013). "Chafee Just 4th Rhode Island Governor Since 1790 to Pass On 2nd Term". Smart Politics. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  61. ↑ "RI.gov: Election Results". Rhode Island Government. November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.

External links

Congress
Political offices
Preceded by
Charles Donovan		 Mayor of Warwick
1993–1999 		Succeeded by
Scott Avedisian
Preceded by
Donald Carcieri		 Governor of Rhode Island
2011–2015 		Succeeded by
Gina Raimondo
United States Senate
Preceded by
John Chafee		 United States Senator (Class 1) from Rhode Island
1999–2007
Served alongside: Jack Reed		 Succeeded by
Sheldon Whitehouse