Former Rep. Charles Djou (R) announced Wednesday that he is running for his former seat, setting up a potential rematch with Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D) in Hawaii’s Honolulu-based 1st district.

Djou won the seat in a May 2010 special against Hanabusa and former Rep. Ed Case (D) but lost by 6 points in a one-on-one matchup with Hanabusa in November. The district leans strongly Democratic, and it will be even more challenging for any Republican with Hawaii-born President Barack Obama on the ballot next year.

In a statement, Djou, an Army Reserve member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, said he is deploying next month for a six-month tour in Afghanistan. He will not begin campaigning until after he returns in March.

“As we look to our future, we cannot afford passive representation,” Djou said. “The budget debate matters as our nation’s debt has been downgraded for the first time in history. At stake is nothing less than whether we will continue to be a great nation or whether we will slide into obsolescence.”

A matchup with Hanabusa is not yet a sure thing, as she is still considering a Senate bid.