Former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee Announces Bid for President

Former Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee formally announced his entry to the 2016 presidential race with a speech in Arlington, Virginia, Wednesday evening.

“I enjoy challenges, and today we have many facing America,” Chafee said in his speech Wednesday. “Today I am formally entering the race for the Democratic nomination for president.”

Chafee is running as a Democrat, but he comes from a long line of Republican politicians, including his father John Chafee, who served as a Republican governor and senator, as well as secretary of the Navy for President Richard Nixon.

Also Read: 2016 Presidential Contenders: The Race to the White House (Photos)

Lincoln himself entered politics as a Republican when he was appointed to replace his father as a senator for Rhode Island. A liberal Republican — the only senator from the party to vote against the Iraq war in 2002 — Chafee eventually left the GOP in 2007, and won his Rhode Island governorship as an independent in 2010.

Chafee is the fourth presidential hopeful to enter the race for the Democratic nomination, with Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton already announced.

Also Read: Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley to Run for President

Following in the footsteps of his competitors, Chafee made social media a central component of his campaign launch.

Today I am formally entering the race for the Democratic nomination for President #Chafee2016

— Lincoln Chafee (@LincolnChafee) June 3, 2015

2016 Presidential Contenders: The Race to the White House (Photos)

Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz was the first person to officially throw his hat into the ring on March 23.
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Republican Senator Rand Paul announced his candidacy on April 7.
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Former First Lady and Secretary of State, Democrat Hillary Clinton announced she would again seek the Oval Office on April 12.
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A Tea Party favorite, Florida Senator Marco Rubio announced his candidacy on April 13.
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A self-described democratic socialist, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders announced he would run on April 28.
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Retired neurosurgeon, Dr. Ben Carson announced his candidacy on May 3. A native of Detroit, the Republican lived in Baltimore for 36 years.
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The first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company, Republican Carly Fiorina announced her candidacy on May 4.
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Former Arkansas governor and Fox News host Mike Huckabee announced his second presidential run in the GOP field on May 5.
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A former Republican senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum announced his second presidential bid on May 27.
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Former New York Governor George Pataki announced the launch of his presidential campaign with a YouTube video on May 28.
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Martin O'Malley, a Democrat and former governor of Maryland, joined the race on May 30.
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Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, announced he would run for the highest office on June 1.
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A former Republican and independent governor of Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee announced his bid for the Democratic nomination on June 3.
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Rick Perry threw his hat into the ring for a second time on June 4. The Republican was the longest serving governor in Texas history.
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The son of one former president and brother of another, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush announced his bid for the Republican nomination on June 15.
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Republican real estate mogul Donald Trump threw his hat into the presidential ring on June 16, saying he'd be “the greatest jobs president that God ever created.”
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"I'm running for President of the United States of America," tweeted Louisiana's Republican Governor Bobby Jindal, who used social media to announce his candidacy on June 24.
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After declaring that "both parties have failed our country," New Jersey's Republican Governor Chris Christie announced his intention to run on June 30.
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Jim Webb, a decorated Vietnam vet and the former Democratic governor of Virginia, announced his candidacy on July 2.
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Wisconsin's Republican Governor Scott Walker announced his candidacy on July 13 with a campaign video.
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Ohio Governor John Kasich announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination on July 21, saying no other candidate else has his experience dealing with deficits, unemployment and national security.
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Jim Gilmore, former Army intelligence officer and Republican governor of Virginia, announced his candidacy on July 30.
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