Lincoln Chafee Drops Out of Race For White House

And then there were three. The former U.S. senator and governor of Rhode Island today announced he's ending his bid for the Democratic nomination.

Dawn Ennis

The Advocate's news editor Dawn Ennis successfully transitioned from broadcast journalism to online media following another transition that made headlines; in 2013, she became the first trans staffer in any major TV network newsroom. As the first out transgender editor at The Advocate, the native New Yorker continues her 30-year media career, in which she has earned more than a dozen awards, including two Emmys. With the blessing of her three children, Dawn retains the most important job title she's ever held: Dad.

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Dawn Ennis

October 23 2015 5:21 AM EST

October 31 2024 7:31 AM EST

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Lincoln Chafee announced this morning he is ending his campaign for the Democratic party nomination for president.

Chafee made his withdrawal announcement in Washington, D.C., at a Democratic National Committee forum on women's leadership, where three other candidates were scheduled to speak.

In a recent online poll for The Advocate, Chafee won just 1 percent of readers's support, with 47 votes out of more than 8,000 cast.

In his speech, Chafee called for "the beginning of a new era for the United States and humanity" and "an end to the endless wars," reported the Washington Post.

"Do we want to be remembered as a bomber of weddings and hospitals?" said Chafee. "Or do we want to be remembered as peacemakers, as pioneers of a more harmonious world?

Chafee is the third Democrat this week to announce he would not seek the presidency, leaving former U.S. senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley competing for votes in next year's primaries.

Vice President Joe Biden announced Wednesday he had decided against entering the race for the White House, and former U.S. senator Jim Webb of Virginia also dropped out of the Democratic race but left open the chance he might launch an independent bid.