Former Republican 'Holiday Tree' Rhode Island Governor Is Becoming a Democrat

AP

Former Republican and Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee is changing political parties and becoming a Democrat, Politico first reported Wednesday.

Chafee served in the U.S. Senate as a Republican before winning the Rhode Island governorship as an independent in 2010. He campaigned for President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, but held off on making his alliance with the Democratic Party official. Now, Chafee "absolutely intends to switch his party registration" before facing re-election in 2014, a source told Politico.

Chafee has stirred up controversy two years in a row for renaming the Rhode Island Statehouse Christmas tree a "holiday tree."

His switch follows former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, another Republican-turned-independent who finally joined the Democratic Party last year after endorsing Obama for re-election.

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