Meet the Only Independent Governor: Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island

image
Published: 12 Jul, 2012
2 min read

lincoln-chafee

The nation's governors will convene this weekend in As of today, Governor of Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee is the lone Independent governor. He was a Republican Senator from 2000 to 2006. After his first full six-year term, he renounced his membership of the Republican Party and became Independent. In the 2010 gubernatorial race, he won and is the only Independent governor in America at the moment. Here are 10 facts about Governor Chafee that highlight his work as a politician:

- Although a former Republican, Chafee supported President Obama in the 2008 election. Chafee is also a co-chair of President Obama's re-election campaign.

- Chafee is a proponent of the Affordable Healthcare Act.

- In recent news, Curt Schilling's video game company 38 Studios went bankrupt. Schilling places the blame on Chafee for denying a $5 million tax credit. The company claims the denial scared investors away from the company.

- Chafee signed a state law that decriminalizes possession of marijuana. The law goes into effect on April 1st, 2013.

- The Homeless Bill of Rights was enacted by Rhode Island last month which prohibits the discrimination of homeless people.

- As a Republican Senator, Chafee voted against George W. Bush's authorization for the invasion of Iraq in 2002.

- Chafee ordered Rhode Island, where same-sex marriages are illegal, to recognize same-sex marriages that were performed out of state.

IVP Donate

- Chafee was a member of Republicans for Environmental Protection, now known as ConservAmerica.

- The New York Times endorsed Chafee in his 2010 campaign for Rhode Island's governorship.

- As Senator, Chafee also opposed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. He is pro-choice in his stance on abortion and believes that abortion law should be left to states.

Governor Chafee is facing low approval ratings and a state with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. He will travel to the National Governors Association's annual meeting to be held this weekend. At this time of high polarization in the political spectrum, perhaps voters will look to Independent politicians for leadership positions when election time comes.

You Might Also Like

“Cartoon illustration of Americans facing the U.S. Capitol as light pierces through red and blue partisan cracks, representing independent voters and hope for political reform.”
New Poll: Voters Want New Leadership – and They’re Turning to Independents
A new poll from the Independent Center highlights a clear message from the public: Americans are fed up with the current political leadership, and they’re ready for change....
12 Nov, 2025
-
2 min read
Massachusetts voters.
Ranked Choice Voting Momentum Surges in Massachusetts as Cities Push for Local Control
Ranked choice voting (RCV) continues to see a surge in momentum across the U.S. However, the state that has seen the largest reform growth in the last 5 years -- Massachusetts -- has received little attention. This is because the 10 cities that have approved RCV have not been able to implement it due to state law....
14 Nov, 2025
-
5 min read
Caution tape with US Capitol building in the background.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Start the Gerrymandering Fight?
The 2026 midterm election cycle is quickly approaching. However, there is a lingering question mark over what congressional maps will look like when voters start to cast their ballots, especially as Republicans and Democrats fight to obtain any electoral advantage possible. ...
11 Nov, 2025
-
8 min read