Case Enters Hawaii Race
Former Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) wants to come back to Capitol Hill. The former two-term Member entered the race Saturday for retiring Rep. Neil Abercrombie’s (D) seat. Abercrombie announced last month that he was running for governor, opening up his Honolulu-based district for a slew of candidates in Hawaii looking to take higher office.Case represented the 2nd district for two full terms before stepping down in 2006 to challenge Sen. Daniel Akaka in the Democratic primary. Case lost his challenge to Akaka, but has since openly discussed another bid for governor or the House. “I represented Manoa and Makiki for eight years in our state legislature, have crisscrossed the First in two statewide campaigns, and have addressed its needs in Congress,— Case said in a statement. “I know the First, and I know I can represent its 600,000 citizens well in Congress.—In Hawaii, it is not uncommon or illegal for candidates to run in either Congressional district. Case’s predecessor, the late Rep. Patsy Mink (D) represented both districts over the course of her 24-year Congressional career. Case is the only announced Democratic candidate so far, although Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, state House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell, state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and former state Rep. Brian Schatz have also been mentioned as possible candidates. Additionally, Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou is running for the GOP nomination for the seat. Djou welcomed Case to the race in a statement. “I enjoyed serving with Ed in the State legislature and I know that he has had a difficult time deciding which seat to run for,— Djou said. “I welcome the competition now that he has decided to run for the 1st Congressional district even though he represented the 2nd.—