Mazie Hirono
Encyclopedia
is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party
.
She was the second Asian
immigrant elected lieutenant governor
of a state of the United States. She ran against Linda Lingle
for governor of Hawaii
in 2002, one of the few gubernatorial races in United States history where two major parties nominated women to challenge each other. She considers herself a non-practicing Buddhist, and is often cited with Hank Johnson
(D-Georgia), as the first Buddhist to serve in the United States Congress
. She is the third woman to be elected to Congress from the state of Hawaii (after Patsy Mink
and Pat Saiki
). On May 19, 2011, Hirono announced her candidacy
for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Senator Daniel Akaka
.
, Japan, in 1947. In 1955, Hirono's mother escaped an abusive marriage by emigrating to the United States with her children. Raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Hirono attended Kaahumanu Elementary and Koko Head Elementary Schools. She later graduated from Kaimuki High School
, which at the time of her attendance had a predominantly Japanese American
student body. Upon graduating from high school, Hirono enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
where, in 1970, she received B.A. in psychology. She left Hawaii briefly to attend Georgetown University Law School
. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and obtained her J.D.
in 1978. Hirono quickly returned to Honolulu where she practiced law.
, passing more than 120 laws. She was honored by a coalition of leaseholders as Legislator of the Year in 1984. From 1987 to 1992, she was the chairman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee.
governor and first Japanese immigrant lieutenant governor. During her tenure as lieutenant governor, Hirono was also president of the National Commission on Teaching, America's Future, as well as the Hawaii Policy Group. She also spearheaded the first-in-the-nation comprehensive Pre-Plus program, a precursor to universal pre-school education in the United States.
' entry in the gubernatorial election. Hawaii residents were shocked, considering his high polling numbers, when Harris abruptly dropped from the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Hirono maneuvered to gain the support of potential Harris voters in her challenge against former Hawaii State House of Representatives Majority Leader Ed Case
and former Republican Chairman D. G. Anderson
for the Democratic ticket. Through the entire primary campaign season, Hirono and Case polled almost equally. Case appealed to Hawaii residents that his campaign was one of government reform as opposed to Hirono whom Case alleged represented the "Old Boys' Network" of Democrats that had ruled over Hawaii for forty years.
In a narrow primary election for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Hirono beat Case, winning by 2,613 votes out of 185,995 valid votes cast. Hirono ran against former Mayor of Maui
, Republican Linda Lingle
, in the general election. Lingle ultimately defeated Hirono to become the first female governor of Hawaii.
, in a 10-way race, garnering 21.8 percent of the vote, about 800 votes ahead of state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, who had 21.1 percent. Former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga (14 percent) finished in third.
Hirono entered the race with significant name recognition as the only candidate who had held statewide office, and she raised more money than any other candidate in the race – in part because she was backed by EMILY's List
, which supports pro-choice Democratic women. Hirono also loaned her campaign $100,000.
Hirono's primary win all but assured her of election in this heavily Democratic district. She defeated broadcaster Bob Hogue
in the general election with 58 percent of the vote.
, who is retiring at the end of his term in 2012.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
She was the second Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
immigrant elected lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor (United States)
In the United States, 43 of the 50 states have a separate, full-time office of lieutenant governor. In most cases, the lieutenant governor is the highest officer of state after the governor, standing in for that officer when he or she is absent from the state or temporarily incapacitated...
of a state of the United States. She ran against Linda Lingle
Linda Lingle
Linda Lingle was the sixth Governor of Hawaii. Lingle holds a number of distinctions: first Republican elected governor of Hawaii since the departure of William F...
for governor of Hawaii
Governor of Hawaii
The Governor of Hawaii is the chief executive of the state of Hawaii and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 1 through 6. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state...
in 2002, one of the few gubernatorial races in United States history where two major parties nominated women to challenge each other. She considers herself a non-practicing Buddhist, and is often cited with Hank Johnson
Hank Johnson
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in DeKalb County, a largely suburban county east of Atlanta. It also includes portions of Gwinnett and Rockdale counties.-Life, education and...
(D-Georgia), as the first Buddhist to serve in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. She is the third woman to be elected to Congress from the state of Hawaii (after Patsy Mink
Patsy Mink
Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink was an American politician from the U.S. state of Hawaii. Mink was a third generation Japanese American and member of the Democratic Party. She also was the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.Mink served in the U.S...
and Pat Saiki
Pat Saiki
Patricia Fukuda "Pat" Saiki is an American politician and former school teacher from Hilo in the State of Hawai'i. She served as a Republican in Congress from 1987 to 1991 and then as Administrator of the Small Business Administration under President of the United States George H. W...
). On May 19, 2011, Hirono announced her candidacy
United States Senate election in Hawaii, 2012
The 2012 United States Senate election in Hawaii will take place on November 6, 2012 concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S...
for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Senator Daniel Akaka
Daniel Akaka
Daniel Kahikina Akaka is the junior U.S. Senator from Hawaii and a member of the Democratic Party. He is the first U.S. Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry and is currently the only member of the Senate who has Chinese ancestry....
.
Early life, education and career
Hirono was born in Fukushima PrefectureFukushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, Japan, in 1947. In 1955, Hirono's mother escaped an abusive marriage by emigrating to the United States with her children. Raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Hirono attended Kaahumanu Elementary and Koko Head Elementary Schools. She later graduated from Kaimuki High School
Kaimuki High School
Kaimuki High School is a WASC-accredited four-year public high school located in Honolulu, Hawaii. Kaimuki High School falls under the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Department of Education. It is bordered by the Manoa-Palolo Drainage Canal, Kapiolani Boulevard, Kaimuki Avenue, Crane Park and Date...
, which at the time of her attendance had a predominantly Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
student body. Upon graduating from high school, Hirono enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
where, in 1970, she received B.A. in psychology. She left Hawaii briefly to attend Georgetown University Law School
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and obtained her J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1978. Hirono quickly returned to Honolulu where she practiced law.
Legislative career
From 1980 to 1994, Hirono served in the Hawaii House of RepresentativesHawaii House of Representatives
The Hawaii House of Representatives is the lower house of the Hawaii State Legislature. Accord to Article III, Section 3 of the Hawaii Constitution, amended during the 1978 constitutional convention, the House of Representatives consists of 51 members representing an equal amount of districts...
, passing more than 120 laws. She was honored by a coalition of leaseholders as Legislator of the Year in 1984. From 1987 to 1992, she was the chairman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee.
Lieutenant Governor
In 1994, she joined the ticket of incumbent Lieutenant Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano and was consequently elected to an historic administration led by the first Filipino AmericanFilipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
governor and first Japanese immigrant lieutenant governor. During her tenure as lieutenant governor, Hirono was also president of the National Commission on Teaching, America's Future, as well as the Hawaii Policy Group. She also spearheaded the first-in-the-nation comprehensive Pre-Plus program, a precursor to universal pre-school education in the United States.
House of Representatives
Committee assignments
- Committee on Education and the WorkforceUnited States House Committee on Education and the WorkforceThe Committee on Education and the Workforce is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.-History of the Committee:Attempts were...
- Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary EducationUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary EducationThe House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce...
- Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsThe House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce.-Jurisdiction:The Subcommittee's jurisdiction includes:...
- Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
- Committee on Ethics
- Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureUnited States House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureThe U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. John Mica currently chairs the committee.-History:...
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime TransportationThe Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over maritime safety, security, law enforcement, and defense. Additionally, the Subcommittee exercises jurisdiction over...
- Subcommittee on Highways and TransitUnited States House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and TransitThe House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit is a subcommittee within the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The subcommittee oversees highway, transit, and highway safety programs in the United States, as well as policy governing how highway and transit projects...
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Caucuses
- Congressional Asian Pacific American CaucusCongressional Asian Pacific American CaucusThe Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus founded on May 16, 1994, by former Congressman Norman Mineta, is a bicameral caucus consisting of members of the United States Congress who have a strong interest in promoting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders issues and advocating the concerns of...
- Congressional Wildlife Refuge CaucusCongressional Wildlife Refuge CaucusThe Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus is a large bi-partisan Congressional Member Organization in the U.S. House of Representatives formed to support the National Wildlife Refuge System through legislation, funding, and education.-History:...
- International Conservation CaucusUnited States Congressional International Conservation CaucusThe U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that was founded in September 2003 with the conviction that “the United States of America has the opportunity, the obligation and the interests to advance the conservation of natural resources for...
- SAFE Port ActSAFE Port ActThe Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 was an Act of Congress in the United States covering port security and to which an online gambling measure was added at the last moment...
2002 Gubernatorial campaign
With her time as Lieutenant Governor coming to an end, Hirono formed a campaign structure as she set her sights on becoming the next governor of Hawai'i in a 2002 special election to fill a vacancy to be created by Jeremy HarrisJeremy Harris
Jeremy Harris, born December 7, 1950 in Wilmington, Delaware, served as Mayor of Honolulu from 1994 to 2004. A biologist by training, Harris started his political career as a delegate to the 1978 Hawai'i State Constitutional Convention...
' entry in the gubernatorial election. Hawaii residents were shocked, considering his high polling numbers, when Harris abruptly dropped from the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Hirono maneuvered to gain the support of potential Harris voters in her challenge against former Hawaii State House of Representatives Majority Leader Ed Case
Ed Case
Edward Espenett "Ed" Case is a Democratic politician and a former member of the United States House of Representatives. Case, a Blue Dog Democrat, first came to prominence in Hawaii as majority leader of the Hawaii State Legislature and for his campaign for Governor of Hawaii in 2002...
and former Republican Chairman D. G. Anderson
D. G. Anderson
Dominis Garrida Anderson , also popularly known as D.G. Anderson and Andy Anderson, is an American politician and businessman from Honolulu, Hawai'i....
for the Democratic ticket. Through the entire primary campaign season, Hirono and Case polled almost equally. Case appealed to Hawaii residents that his campaign was one of government reform as opposed to Hirono whom Case alleged represented the "Old Boys' Network" of Democrats that had ruled over Hawaii for forty years.
In a narrow primary election for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Hirono beat Case, winning by 2,613 votes out of 185,995 valid votes cast. Hirono ran against former Mayor of Maui
Mayor of Maui
The Mayor of Maui is the chief executive officer of the County of Maui in the state of Hawaii. He or she has municipal jurisdiction over the islands of Kahoolawe, Lanai, Maui and Molokai...
, Republican Linda Lingle
Linda Lingle
Linda Lingle was the sixth Governor of Hawaii. Lingle holds a number of distinctions: first Republican elected governor of Hawaii since the departure of William F...
, in the general election. Lingle ultimately defeated Hirono to become the first female governor of Hawaii.
2006 U.S. House campaign
On September 23, Hirono won the Democratic primary for , being vacated by Ed CaseEd Case
Edward Espenett "Ed" Case is a Democratic politician and a former member of the United States House of Representatives. Case, a Blue Dog Democrat, first came to prominence in Hawaii as majority leader of the Hawaii State Legislature and for his campaign for Governor of Hawaii in 2002...
, in a 10-way race, garnering 21.8 percent of the vote, about 800 votes ahead of state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, who had 21.1 percent. Former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga (14 percent) finished in third.
Hirono entered the race with significant name recognition as the only candidate who had held statewide office, and she raised more money than any other candidate in the race – in part because she was backed by EMILY's List
EMILY's List
EMILY's List is a political action committee in the United States that aims to help elect female candidates to office. It was founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1984....
, which supports pro-choice Democratic women. Hirono also loaned her campaign $100,000.
Hirono's primary win all but assured her of election in this heavily Democratic district. She defeated broadcaster Bob Hogue
Bob Hogue
Bob Hogue is an athletic conference commissioner, author and columnist, sportscaster, and a former Republican member of the Hawaii State Senate representing the 24th district for six years . Hogue was the Republican nominee for U.S...
in the general election with 58 percent of the vote.
2008
Hirono won against Republican Roger B. Evans, Independent Shaun Stenshol, and Libertarian Jeff Mallan.2010
Hirono won against Republican nominee John Willoughby, Libertarian nominee Patric R. Brock, and Independent Andrew Von Sonn.2012
On May 19, 2011, Mazie Hirono announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Senator Daniel AkakaDaniel Akaka
Daniel Kahikina Akaka is the junior U.S. Senator from Hawaii and a member of the Democratic Party. He is the first U.S. Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry and is currently the only member of the Senate who has Chinese ancestry....
, who is retiring at the end of his term in 2012.
Electoral history
Results certified by the Office of Elections, State of Hawaii:- 2002 Race for Governor
- Linda LingleLinda LingleLinda Lingle was the sixth Governor of Hawaii. Lingle holds a number of distinctions: first Republican elected governor of Hawaii since the departure of William F...
(R), 51.1% - Mazie Hirono (D), 46.6%
- Linda Lingle
- 2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives – 2nd Congressional District
- Mazie Hirono (D), 59.8%
- Bob HogueBob HogueBob Hogue is an athletic conference commissioner, author and columnist, sportscaster, and a former Republican member of the Hawaii State Senate representing the 24th district for six years . Hogue was the Republican nominee for U.S...
(R), 38.2%
- 2008 Race for U.S. House of Representatives – 2nd Congressional District
- Mazie Hirono (D), 69.8%
- Roger Evans (R), 18.7%
- 2010 Race for U.S. House of Representatives – 2nd Congressional District
- Mazie Hirono (D), 67.7%
- John Willoughby (R), 23.7%
External links
- U.S. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono official U.S. House site
- Hirono for Senate official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Democratic Party of Hawaii
- "The Immigrant Congresswoman" Dan Boylan, March 21, 2007, MidWeek cover story