Brian Schatz Senate: Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor Tapped To Replace Late Sen. Daniel Inouye

n/t.

Hawai'i is utterly devoid of senority. They cannot afford to have a placeholder which would essentially be throwing away two years of seniority.

Furthermore, temporary appointments usually involve 70+ year old political rethreads given the honor as a capstone to their career. Yes, I know Carte Goodwin was appointed in 2010 at the age of 36 years old after Byrd died but he wasn't an elected official either. Schatz is the Lieutenant Governor and it would be foolish to accept the appointment for two years with no position to go too. No one wants to be a 42-year-old (Schatz' age on Election Day 2014) has-been.

The only better choice would have been Gary Hooser, but he wasn't one of the three names given by the SCC to Neil.

Aaron Schock is currently the youngest, but Patrick Murphy will take that title when he is sworn in next week.

Doesn't seem any less political to me.

It's a done and appears fine. Thanks and good night.

There are three main reasons why Brian Schatz was likely chosen over Colleen Hanabusa.

1) Seniority. With the death of Daniel Inouye and impending retirement of Daniel Akaka from the Senate, as well as the promotion of Mazie Hirono to Akaka's seat, Hawai'i is poised to lose almost all of its seniority. It is therefore imperative for the state to start rebuilding its seniority. House seniority cannot be transferred to the Senate except as a tie-breaker for two senators taking office on the exact same day. Therefore, Hirono's six years of House seniority is gone and Hanabusa's two years of House seniority would be gone too if she were appointed to the Senate. Also, Hanabusa is 61 while Schatz is 40. Schatz therefore has a lot more time to accrue seniority and be able to go on to become a committee chairman. It takes until a senator's third term before a committee chairmanship becomes a possibility and a prime committee chairmanship usually requires 20-25 years of service. By the time Hanabusa could accrue this seniority, she'd be approaching retirement. With Schatz and Hirono's replacement, Tulsi Gabbard, being only 31 years old, this is their best chance to do so.

2) Hanabusa's seat. If Hanabusa had been appointed to the senate, she would have had to forego her House seat. This would have necessitated a special election. In Hawai'i, special elections involve all candidates on a single ballot and whomever has a plurality is elected. There are primaries in special elections or even a second round in the even of no candidate receiving a majority of votes cast. A split Democratic field and with 1/2 term former Rep. Charles Djou on the ballot, Djou could easily make a comeback. Djou was elected in 2010 after Hanabusa and Ed Case split the Democratic vote allowing Djou to win with less that 40% of the vote. While another Djou win wouldn't be the end of the world (he'd likely lose again in 2014), it would allow the GOP to make hay and say "hey, they oppose the president's fiscal plan everywhere, even in Hawai'i!!!!1!!" even though it would ignore all context. Besides, when was the last time Republicans paid attention to context?

3) Electability. Hanabusa, prior to her election to Congress, had a long career as a state senator. However, her attempts at promotion were very lacklustre. She lost three previous congressional bids and her two congressional victories were rather lukewarm. Granted, her defeat of then-Rep. Charles Djou in the 2010 general election was as a challenger and Hawai'i *loves* their incumbents. However, in 2012, as the incumbent, she only got 53% of vote while Obama won with 70%, Hirono defeated former governor Linda Lingle for the U.S. Senate seat 62-38 and Tulsi Gabbard won over 3/4 of the vote in her own district.

Which is what I said upthread, that i approve. As if anyone needs my opinion in Hawaii. Night.

Wow. Gutsy of Abercrombie not to go with Inouye's chosen successor. I am sure there are stories behind this.

Also Inouye kinda sorta opposed Abercrombie in the democratic primary for gov last time around (though he did not outright endorse his opponent).

But mostly its just that Abercrombie does what he wants and he's personally loyal to his running mate and LG.

Also maybe Abercrombie wants someone who can be in the senate for a very long time and gather seniority over the long term, Schatz is only 40 while Hanabusa is in her 60s.

Neil genuinely selected the person he felt would do the best job for Hawaii.

Other than that I don't know much about where he stands.

Governor Abercrombie served in Congress for almost 20 years. He probably knows what he is doing.

..., I'll just assume there was a good reason, politics-wise, for this choice.

If she says she didn't want the position all is good.

Mike Memoli

@mikememoli Hanabusa statement: "I fully respect the process and the governor’s right to appoint a successor."

on the Armed Services Committee. Also, he is hoping to develop seniority.......

Abercrombie said that his decision was in the “overall best interest” of the state and that “sometimes you have to set aside personal considerations in order to look for the good of the whole.”

“Now that Sen. Akaka has retired and Senator Inouye has passed away, that Representative Hanabusa occupies a key position on the Armed Services Committee in the House of Representatives,” he said.

"and I think as well the question of establishing seniority in as many venues as we can with our small delegation is another foremost consideration.”

excerpts taken from link provided.

The Lt. Governor having been a legislator will likely hit the ground running, too.

But my interest isn't furthering Hanabusa's career...

I have to say I am pretty impressed with Abercrombie. He is making some tough decisions and is pretty forward thinking.

The "wish" was an opinion, just the same as others. Honoring him does not require that his endorsed replacement must also be endorsed above all others.

To avoid a special election.

but it really never occurred to me that the Gov would go against Inouye's last wish.

Hawaii is a small state. Dan may have considered some of the issues regarding his replacement but there are other issues he may not have considered. Here is Governor Abercrombie's news conference this afternoon:



Big, really big shoes to fill. I, for one, am happy with the choice.

I'm happy w Brian too.

Mike Memoli

@mikememoli Hanabusa statement: "I fully respect the process and the governor’s right to appoint a successor."

I didn't see that coming.. but, I like it!!

cal04

She ran, she got elected, and she's got to be stoked about that.