Staff quits after Alabama congressman switches to GOP

WASHINGTON — All but one of the Washington staffers for U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith resigned on Monday in protest of the Alabama congressman's decision to switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party.

In a sharply worded statement, Griffith's former chief of staff, Sharon Wheeler, called the freshman congressman's switch a "mistake" that goes against the interests of his district, which relies heavily on federal funding for defense and aerospace jobs.

"We cannot in good conscience continue working for him," Wheeler said.

Griffith's legislative aides, interns and other junior staffers also quit, joining his former spokesman, Sean Magers, who had already announced he was leaving. The resignations left Griffith with just one staffer in his Washington office.

In a statement, Griffith said the resignations were expected. Griffith, a former state senator, narrowly won the seat last year and announced his party switch on Dec. 22, saying he could no longer support the Democratic agenda on health care and other issues.

Chafee to run for governor of R.I.

Former Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee, who succeeded his father in the Senate but repeatedly broke ranks with party leadership until a Democrat defeated him, announced Monday that he will run as an independent candidate for governor of Rhode Island.

Chafee, 56, pledged fiscal responsibility in a heavily battered state economy as he entered an already competitive race untethered to either major political party and dogged by questions about whether he could raise enough money to remain a viable candidate.

Moving on

Rep. Neil Abercrombie announced Monday he will resign from Congress on Feb. 28 to run for governor of Hawaii. The 71-year-old Democrat, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 19 years, said he's resigning to devote more time to his campaign and to allow state officials to plan for a special election for the seat representing urban Honolulu. He will likely face Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, a Democrat, and Republican Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.

Rep. Henry Brown, a farm boy who rose to became one of South Carolina's most powerful politicians, announced Monday he will not seek a sixth term. The 74-year-old Republican said he wants to spend more time with his family.