Colleen Hanabusa seeks to fill the vacant seat in HI-01

Lost special election, but still in primary.

Colleen Hanabusa (D) is running for Congress in Hawaii’s 1st district.  She faces both a primary and a general election race.

Hanabusa is running in a special election to fill a vacant seat in HI-01. Hawaii has a winner-take-all system for special elections, which poses problems for the Democratic field, since two candidates will split the Democratic vote and could potentially create a favorable environment for the Republican candidate. Hanabusa has demonstrated her commitment  as a strong women’s rights  leader during her time as the president of the Hawaii State Senate. 

Background:

• Hanabusa served as Hawaii State Senate majority leader, and is the current president of the Hawaii State Senate.  She was the first woman to lead either house of the Hawaii legislature;
• JD from the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law;
• Chair, Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee in the Hawaii State Senate;
• 2001 Vice Chair, Senate Ways and Means Committee;
• Chair, Senate Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs
• Lifetime Member in The National Registry of Who's Who;
•  Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward and White, Inc.,
• Noted in Honolulu Magazine's One of Hawai`i's A+ Attorneys in 1993
• Served as a delegate to the Hawai`i State Judicial Conference;

Hanabusa’s Position on Key Issues:

• Reproductive Health: Supports a woman’s right to choose, and fought for legislation to require insurance companies to cover birth control and supported access to emergency contraception for sexual assault victims;
• Education: Worked to secure funding for schools to meet the needs of disabled students

Endorsements:

• Daniel Inouye, Senator from Hawaii

Primary Opponent:

• Ed Case (D) – former Representative of HI-02. Case’s cousin, Stephen Case, is co-founder and former CEO of America Online (AOL).

General Election Opponent

• Charles Djou (R) – moderate Republican.

Prospects: Hanabusa has out-fundraised Case and has received endorsements from both of Hawaii’s senators and most of the state’s labor unions.  However, the special election in Hawaii is a winner-take-all three-way election.  The DCCC has said that they may make an endorsement, and although Hanabusa has received high-profile endorsements and out fundraised her Democratic opponent, sources say the DCCC is leaning towards endorsing Case.  Hanabusa would be a strong advocate for women if elected to the U.S. House. 

Other Endorsements: EMILY's List, NOW, NWPC, WCF

Website: http://hanabusaforhawaii.ning.com/