U.S. House: 1st District (Urban Oahu) / U.S. House 2nd District (Rural Oahu — Neighbor Islands)
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Opponents lack name recognition but are challenging Democratic incumbents Hirono and Abercrombie
Holding the most campaign cash and facing no challengers from their party, Democratic U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono are expected to easily hold on to their congressional seats this year.
The CandidatesU.S. House |
Abercrombie will cruise unopposed past the Sept. 20 primary and into November’s general contest, along with perennial candidate Steve Tataii, the sole Republican running for the 1st Congressional District of urban Honolulu.
They will be joined by either C. Kaui Jochanan Amsterdam, an official in an interim Government of the Kingdom of Hawaii, or Li Zhao, who will battle for the Libertarian ticket.
Abercrombie, who is looking for a 10th consecutive full term in the House, had $1.3 million in campaign funds as of June, according to the Federal Election Commission. His opponents reported having no campaign dollars.
Meanwhile, Hirono will face three candidates — Shaun Stenshol, an Independent, Lloyd J. Mallan, vice chairman of the Hawaii Libertarian Party, and Roger B. Evans, a Republican — who are vying for her 2nd Congressional District seat, which covers rural Oahu and the neighbor islands.
For Hirono, the fight will not be nearly as tough as the one she encountered in 2006, when she had to beat nine Democratic hopefuls in the primary to later clinch the House seat vacated by Ed Case, who had an unsuccessful bid to oust U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.
Hawaii GOP spokesman Adam Deguire said the party will target its resources on winning state legislative seats this year.
“It’s an uphill battle for us,” he said about the congressional races.
Abercrombie and Hirono will enjoy the advantages of being incumbents in a solidly Democratic state and should win re-election, said Neal Milner, a political scientist at the University of Hawaii.
Even in 2006, he noted, the busy race for Case’s open seat centered on Democrats such as current state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, state Sen. Gary Hooser and then-state Rep. Brian Schatz — none of whom are in the field this year.
“It doesn’t surprise me that they are skipping” the congressional competition, Milner said, noting the party’s focus on the presidential election. “Unity is a particular sensitive issue among Democrats.”
Hirono had more than $670,000 in campaign funds at the end of June, compared with no money for her challengers, FEC records show.
Still, Hirono said she will be running “a strong, focused campaign” which should become more visible following the primary and will include mail, television ads and sign-waving.
“I take nothing for granted,” she said.
