Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz has hired Clay Schroers to manage his campaign for next year’s highly competitive Democratic primary.

Schroers was born and raised in Hawaii. He has managed several congressional races, including New York Rep. Dan Maffei’s successful comeback bid last year. He also served as an aide to Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

In December, Schatz was appointed to the seat of the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii. He faces Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in next year’s Democratic primary for the special election to fill the remaining two years of Inouye’s term. The winner will be heavily favored in this solidly Democratic state in the November 2014 special election as well as in the regularly scheduled election in 2016.