PROVIDENCE,
R.I. — A snapshot of former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who is
expected to announce Wednesday in Arlington, Virginia, that he is
running for the Democratic presidential nomination:
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THE BRIEF
Lincoln
Chafee has built a reputation as a contrarian in a career that has
included holding office as a Republican and as an independent. In the
Senate, Chafee often clashed with fellow Republicans during the
administration of President George W. Bush, then left the party after he
lost his bid for re-election in 2006. Elected governor in 2010 as an
independent, Chafee found it difficult to build coalitions among the two
parties in the statehouse and did not seek another term in 2014.
His
decision to explore a presidential campaign has perplexed many
Democrats. Rhode Island Democratic state Rep. Mia Ackerman said she
couldn't imagine anyone not being surprised, because there was "no buzz,
no whispers, nothing."
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RESUME REVIEW
Chafee
hails from a prominent Rhode Island political family. His late father
was a U.S. senator and governor and he has at least two other Rhode
Island governors and a U.S. senator in his family tree. Chafee got his
start in politics as a member of the Warwick, Rhode Island, city
council, and served as mayor during the 1990s. He was appointed to the
Senate when his father, Sen. John Chafee, died in office. The younger
Chafee won the seat outright in 2000. Chafee was defeated by Democrat
Sheldon Whitehouse in 2006, but he resurrected his career as an
independent, winning the governor's office in 2010. Facing poor approval
ratings, he became a Democrat in 2013 but opted not to seek
re-election.
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