Djou wins special election for Congress (Hawaii)

[Psephos]

Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Republican Charles Djou emerged victorious tonight in the special election to fill Hawaii's vacancy in Congress, giving Hawaii it's first GOP member of Congress in 20 years.

Djou won the special mail-in election with 39.5 percent of the vote in the first printout, released at 6 p.m. The first printout represented nearly all of the 170,312 returned by voters in the district, which stretches from Waikiki and downtown to Mililani.

Democrat Colleen Hanabusa was second at 30.8 percent, with Democrat Ed Case third at 27.6 percent. Eleven other candidates combined to receive 2.1 percent of the vote.

<snip>

Djou is Hawaii's first GOP member of Congress since Pat Saiki, who represented the party from 1987 to 1991.

Former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie announced in December plans to resign his seat to concentrate solely on his campaign for governor, setting off a special election campaign unlike any in state history.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/bulletin/94673904.html

[quakerboy]

1. So whats the likelyhood

he keeps it in December? I assume its up again in December.

[mahina]

8. Zero.

[quakerboy]

13. So in a backhanded way

this could be considered a good thing. It is one seat that will go into this next election pub and flip dem, contrary to the common wisdom of what the trend will be. Plus hopefully serve as an object lesson to dems who would divide ourselves at critical points.

[mahina]

24. It's hard to see the silver lining just at the moment.

Yes, it would be a lesson, if the hardheads around here could learn one.

[quakerboy]

34. I gotcha

If I were there on the ground, I would be pretty pissed at this moment, and no mistake. I do take heart in that Democrats still have a hefty margin in congress, so in the national getting things done sense, this is not the end of the world. But its still a fuckup, and one of the democrats should really have taken a chair some time ago.

[bluestateguy]

2. Thanks a lot Ed Case and Colleen Hanabalusa!!!!

Like two over-indulgent little children on the playground: "did not!", "did too!" "It's your fault!", "is NOT!"

[sabrina 1]

3. Yes, they threw the race to a Republican.

But hopefully he will lose it in November and I hope those two just go home.

[mahina]

9. I'm not hearing any of that.

[dkf]

19. The DCCC tried to get Hanabusa to drop out because she is the team player.

But Sen Inouye stood by her since Case is a Joe Lieberman type of Dino.

I'm sure we are favored to get this seat back in November. I laugh at how much was wasted on the stupid special election. Abercrombie should have kept his seat and spared us this mess.

[KamaAina]

59. Or they could have just kept the seat vacant until November

How much was spent on this farce in a state that can't even keep its schools open on Fridays? :shrug:

[cyclezealot]

28. Such stupidy and personal ambition on our part..

Did not Will Rogers say. I don't belong to an organized party. I am a Democrat. How true.

[TlalocW]

4. I saw the headline on Yahoo. It said...

GOP wins House Seat in Obama's Home District, which of course got me thinking someone won in the district that covers Chicago, but no, it's the district where he grew up as a kid. Seems the media have to tie every GOP victory to Obama, no matter how tenuous.

Hey, Obama once had a stop-over at Tulsa's airport, and Oklahoma decided to re-elect Jim Inhofe! How do the democrats distance themselves from Obama's reverse Midas touch?

TlalocW

[sabrina 1]

7. Mmm, but according to Republican birthers, that is NOT his

home district! How will they resolve this problem of desperately wanting to claim victory in 'his home district' when according to them, that District is in Kenya?

I mean Az Republicans even proposed a law demanding that presidential candidates show their birth certificates to prove they are citizens especially for Obama. They did abandon the bill, if not the sentiment, after the reaction to their 'show me your papers' bill. Still, it's hard to be a rightwinger sometimes. They're damned if they do and damned if they don't poor things.

[davidinalameda]

32. I was thinking the same thing when I saw the headline

I hadn't heard about any election in Chicago so I was confused

[PinkFloyd]

5. If they were so stupid to let two run then they deserve to lose the seat

Republicans all over are crowing like this is about Obama or Washington. In all truthfulness, it's about stupidity and selfishness. What the hell did they expect would happen?

[dkf]

20. Ed Case ran against Sen Akaka earlier. You really think anyone could get him to drop out?

He pisses off labor and is pro war. Believe me he is not the rep you want.

Hanabusa will be much better. And when we see Djou voting no on funds for education when Hawaii is furloughing our kids and giving them the shortest school year in the nation people will begin to see him for the Rand Paul that he is.

[mahina]

23. +1

mahalo.

[Dagaz]

6. The big news is Hanabusa

Ed Case was the Washington candidate and was widely expected to win or come close in this one. At least finish 2nd and win the primary. This will cause the DNCC to say hmmmmmmm.

[mahina]

10. yep.

[Bluesbreaker]

11. Djou will be gone in November

Colleen Hanabusa will prevail in the September Democratic Primary and then slaughter Djou. The Republicans all voted for Djou and the two Democratic candidates split the independent and democratic vote. Case came in third and the majority of his votes were from right-leaning independents I'm sure. He's a blue dog, if Hawaii has blue dogs (maybe a blue mongoose).

In the September primary, Case will not have the independents who were his main source of votes. It will be only Democrats, and they are overwhelmingly for Hanabusa. In the general, Hanabusa should take the majority easily. The First Congressional District has historically voted more than 60 percent Democratic. Djou will be lucky to get 40 percent of the votes in November, especially after the voters see what he does in Congress between now and then.

[NBachers]

15. Good post. I like Hanabusa and I'll continue to donate to her.

[FrenchieCat]

12. It's Obama's fault!

[Bluesbreaker]

14. Actually, It's Abercrombie's Fault

If Neil Abercrombie hadn't resigned early, there would have been no special election, only the primary and the general, both of which would have heavily favored Colleen.

[mahina]

22. That's a meme that team Mufi is selling, but I don't know anyone buying it.

First of all, Neil did a fantastic job for 20 years. Just because we took him for granted doesn't mean he owed us anything much less staying in Congress another 7 months.

Secondly, I love how this is cast as someone's fault rather than a feature of our elections. It's not Dan Inouye's fault for pushing Colleen Hanabusa, it's not Ed's fault for a shaky campaign, it's not the voter's fault for electing someone Democrats don't like. Somehow it's Neil's fault.

No thanks.

[dkf]

25. But he shouldn't have resigned.

It came across as a stunt to me. If he helped us get those education funds that would be the best campaign commercial he could have run.

Oh well. Hindsight is 20/20 and he must be feeling pretty bad now.

[tcaudilllg]

27. His fault absolutely

Neil was intending to run for Governor when he got re-elected last time. He had an obligation to fill out his term. I hope, I hope he is not the Dem nominee come November, or we will probably lose that race.

[mahina]

38. Disagree 100%

Are you on Oahu, or the neighbor islands? Curious, because the party here supports Neil very strongly.

[mystieus]

16. Tim Kaine?!

[kiapolo]

17. Not a lock for Dems in November as many here think...

Djou got 40% of the vote...40% against a moderate dem and a pro-union dem. Unless the local dem party wakes up and starts listening to the public here and NOT taking them for granted Djou could easily pick up 10-15% from a moderate dem like Case.

Sitting idly by thinking this seat is a sure (D) in November is the same attitude that handed Djou a seat that he could easily keep for a while...

[CreekDog]

18. Djou got 39.5% and this is a problem?

okayyyyyyyy. :rofl:

honestly, if this is a problem, we all might as well just pack it in right now.

[dkf]

21. Most people here don't know much more than party ID.

Personally I didn't learn much about any of their stances other than the typical r vs d argument. The only thing is that maybe Case got the white vote. I'm not sure where that vote will go in an Asian vs Asian race.

I'm just glad we are done with the commercials. Case's were so bad I was turning the channel.

[mahina]

41. There is no such thing as 'the white vote' imho.

Remember the Akaka / Case race, when the progressive democrats Hawaii (PDH) endorsed and then supported Dan Akaka?

The ethnic mix of that crowd was and is mostly local haoles, (for the present anyway), but in that race, together with others, PDH helped Senator Akaka win with a big margin.

If there is a 'white vote', I guess that is the Hawaii Kai based support for Djou. You know, it's way more subtle than race. That's my perspective anyway.

[kiapolo]

60. It's the typical thinking on DU that may cost this seat in Nov...

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100524/NEWS01/5240346/Election+results+show+Djou+s+appeal+outside+East+Honolulu

Election results show Djou's appeal outside East Honolulu
Hanabusa's lead over Case encouraging for Democratic primary

By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Government Writer

Congressman-elect Charles Djou's strength remains in more conservative East Honolulu, but he demonstrated in his special-election victory Saturday night that he may be able to compete with Democrats in central and west side territory that could be critical in the November general election.

Djou, a Republican, took most of urban Honolulu's 1st Congressional District because state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and former Congressman Ed Case split the Democratic vote.

An Advertiser analysis of the vote by state House district found that Djou performed well in potential swing districts around Mililani and 'Ewa Beach. While the combined vote for Hanabusa and Case was still larger than Djou's markers, there is no guarantee all these voters would stick with the Democratic nominee in November.

Hanabusa trailed Case in East Honolulu but did better than the former congressman in every district west of Makiki — an encouraging sign for her campaign against Case in the September primary.

Hanabusa's muscle in the most solidly Democratic territory of urban Honolulu, combined with her expected edge in fundraising and the organizational help from establishment Democrats and labor unions, gives her the advantage in the primary.

Djou, who could be sworn in to fill out the remaining months of former Congressman Neil Abercrombie's term as soon as tomorrow in Washington, D.C., said he considers himself the underdog in November. He said he would be leaving the Honolulu City Council this week.

"I realize that this is an uphill battle, although I have been given and granted an extraordinary privilege to be a congressman, and, of course, it is an advantage to run as an incumbent," Djou said yesterday at state GOP headquarters. "I still realize, looking into the November election, I'm still the underdog, and I still have to prove to the people of Hawai'i that this trust they have granted to me is deserved."
sensing frustration

Djou said he believes the independents and moderate Democrats he must win to hold the district in November are, like other voters, frustrated with the direction of Congress and interested in greater fiscal responsibility. He said that with three leading candidates in the special election, there was a lot of overlap on issues, but he thinks the issues will be much more defined in a two-candidate race.

Democrats sought to connect Djou to the conservative extremes of the national GOP during the special election. Democrats will now scrutinize every significant vote Djou takes over the next several months in Congress to try to show he does not reflect the views of most urban Honolulu voters.

"As sharp as the elbows were in this special election, they are going to get even sharper in the general election," Djou said. "The only thing I can point to is my record. It's my record over the last 10 years on the council and the Legislature of being an effective representative and putting my constituents first, making sure that it's Hawai'i first, ahead of my personal or partisan interests."

Djou, who will be the only Republican in the state's congressional delegation, said he does expect to side with Hawai'i Democrats and President Obama on certain issues. But, he said, "if they're doing something that I believe is not in the best interest of the people of Hawai'i, I will call them on it."
'worst curveball'

Hanabusa said the special election showed that she is the stronger Democrat despite Case's claims over the past several weeks that he was the only Democrat who could challenge Djou.

She said voters stood behind her even as Case and some national Democrats suggested that a vote for her would be wasted. She said her performance showed that the grassroots outreach from her superior network of activists and volunteers was effective.

"We probably got thrown the worst curveball by being called irrelevant and being called a wasted vote," she said. "But the people stuck by us and voted."

Late appeals by Obama, three former Democratic governors and other leading Democrats to vote for a Democrat — not singling out Hanabusa or Case — helped boost turnout to 54 percent and likely drove more votes toward Hanabusa. Hanabusa won state House districts centered in St. Louis Heights, Mō'ili'ili, Kalihi, Kamehameha Heights, Waipahu and Pearl City.

"I think our gut was correct," she said, countering the assessment by many national Democrats that Case was the more electable Democrat. "Hawai'i is a special place, and people here look at politics a lot differently."

Hanabusa said the message from Saturday night is not to presume how voters will act. "You never underestimate the voter," she said.
party division

Case captured the state House district he used to represent in Mānoa but trailed in every other district.

Some Democrats are concerned that the primary could further divide the party and give Djou a manual on Hanabusa's and Case's weaknesses.

When Case, a moderate, lost a close primary for governor to Mazie Hirono in 2002, for example, a Hawai'i Poll found that nearly half of Case's voters said they planned to vote for Linda Lingle, a Republican, in the general election.

Lingle beat Hirono and claimed 14 of the 16 state House districts that Case had won in the primary.

In a statement last night regarding the special election, Case said, "There's no way to sugar-coat a loss."

Case said he called Djou to offer his congratulations "and offer my assistance as he undertakes his new responsibilities on Capitol Hill for the next seven months."

Yesterday, Case said, "I actually did go bodysurfing at Point Panic, get a start on cleaning up my mess of a yard, and spend time with my family. But tomorrow is a new day, the start of our next chapters together, and I'm excited to begin anew."

Reach Derrick DePledge at [email protected].

• • •

• • •
Look at that graphic! Hanabusa/Case gotta work hard to get this seat in November. Laying back and thinking it's an automatic D may cost Dems this seat!

[SemperEadem]

26. but Hawaii isn't a state...

people born after 1959 aren't citizens like the rest of us... (/sarcasm)

[Historic NY]

29. So 2 Dems decided to have a slug fest the puke won, thats what I get..

[TomCADem]

35. Notice How The Corporate Media Does Not Mention This In The Headlines...

That two Democrats split the vote, and the Republican candidate only got 39.6 percent for a win?

[CTLawGuy]

30. temporary setback

the dems will win this seat and LA-02 (New Orleans) in the fall.

[mahina]

39. Yep

I'm swiping that graphic, thank you!

[CTLawGuy]

42. plz do

it's awesome!

[onehandle]

31. Current AP headline everywhere: GOP wins House seat in Obama's home district

All that matters is the spin.

[harmonicon]

33. a perfect case for why states need to institute instant run-off voting (nt)

[Jim Lane]

36. It would be simpler for Hawaii to have a method for selecting paty nominees in special elections.

In most other states, either there's a primary or the party leaders in the district pick a party nominee. Either method prevents this kind of unrepresentative result.

[harmonicon]

37. yes, that would be simpler

But I also think it would be less democratic, and I would like to think our democracy should strive to become more democratic when possible.

[mahina]

40. Agreed!

Very true. It would have been a great improvement.

[kpete]

43. Republican takes Hawaii House seat as GOP ends losing streak

Source: The Hill


Republican takes Hawaii House seat as GOP ends losing streak
By Ian Swanson - 05/23/10 12:21 AM ET

Republicans ended their special election losing streak Saturday in an unlikely district in President Barack Obama’s hometown.

Republican Charles Djou won 39.5 percent of the vote to take a seat vacated by former Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D), who is running for governor of Hawaii.

Djou benefited from two Democrats in the release, who split their party’s vote. Colleen Hanabusa, the president of the state senate, took 30.8 percent of the vote while former Rep. Ed Case held 27.6 percent.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele hailed the victory by Djou, a Honolulu city councilman, in a statement that noted the victory came in Obama’s hometown, and in a district Obama carried in 2008 with 70 percent of the vote.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/99335-republican-takes-hawaii-house-seat-as-gop-ends-losing-streak

[PSPS]

44. I see. 39% now equals "ending a losing streak." OK.

Get back to me in November when this seat goes back to the democrats.

[mynameiswhat]

45. I hope so!

[AlbertCat]

48. I see. 39% now equals "ending a losing streak." OK.

I know. If another Repug loses, does that mean the losing streak is back up?

[madfloridian]

46. Wasn't the DCCC helping Case until recently?

They finally backed out to keep the GOP from winning?

Case entered the race later, I think.

"The Democratic split was exacerbated by the nature of the candidates. Case, who was unofficially backed by national Democrats, went into the race with high name recognition. He previously waged an unsuccessful but very close Democratic primary campaign for governor in 2002 and was then elected to the state's other House seat in a special election. In 2006, he challenged incumbent Sen. Daniel Akaka in the Democratic primary, losing by the fairly close margin of 54%-45%. However, the latter 2006 campaign seriously alienated him from many establishment state Democrats, with Akaka and fellow Dem Sen. Daniel Inouye supporting Hanabusa.

Thus the race was characterized by DCCC running generic attack ads against Djou that did not advocate for a single Democrats, Hanabusa's allies in organized labor attacking Case, and Case trumpeting his unofficial national Dem support."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/dems-brace-for-loss-of-usually-ultra-safe-hawaii-house-seat-on-saturday.php?ref=fpb

[dkf]

49. Rumor was the DCCC asked Hanabusa to drop out.

But with her backing of Inouye that was not going to happen. Case will win the seat over Dan Inouye's dead body. Case earned the ethernal enmity of a lot of Dems, including me, by running against Sen Dan Akaka saying he wanted to build up future seniority (when Dan Inouye dies dontcha know). What a joke. Akaka is chairing committees for gods sakes.

Now the national establishment looks like they backed the loser. Case had a ton of commercials which were obnoxiously bad BTW. He must have gotten quite a bit of money from them and he came in third. What a waste.

[opihimoimoi]

50. Yup, Case did a NO NO when going for Akakas seat...yup, I agree

Coleen will sweep in Nov

[madfloridian]

52. Thanks for that explanation.

That has happened too often, that kind of thing.

[FarLeftFist]

47. The Dems literally handed them this one...

This should have been 8 in a row. No more splitting votes. We're taking this one back in November.

[customerserviceguy]

51. Yep, just like the Repukes did in upstate NY

When you don't have your act together, stuff like this happens. In any case, I really don't expect that Congress is going to do too much between now and next January, anyway, once the financial bill is passed.

[The Croquist]

56. I spoke to a fairly significant Republican in that district a few months ago

The good news is that he was still blaming the Conservative, Hoffman, for the loss rather then themselves for a bad choice of candidates (there was no primary). More good news is that once again the GOP is trying to self-destruct. The Republican leadership is backing Matt Doheny while the Tea party is backing Hoffman.

The bad news is that Hoffman claimed that a poll taken in January gave him a backing of 74% of the GOP.

[madfloridian]

53. Apparently the DCCC caused this split.

By supporting Case.

[Unvanguard]

54. 58.4 to 39.5. Hardly a Republican victory. n/t

[The Croquist]

55. Yes it is a Republican victory

Further the Djou will be the incumbent come November, There is no reason to think that of the a chunk of the voters who didn't support Hanabusa or Case won't vote for Djou. Then there is the issue of the pissed off Democratic voters who may not support Hanabusa or Case because they supported the other in this election or in the September primary that is sure to be less then cordial.

Maybe this will be a cakewalk come November but maybe not.

[Unvanguard]

57. Sorry, let me put it differently: it is good for the Republicans but it does not prove anything.

That is, it says nothing about the national trend.

You are quite right that the incumbency here makes a difference, but I'd hope that enough Democrats in the district are banging their heads against the wall right now to be prepared to oust this Republican come November.

[KamaAina]

58. Goddamn DINO Case wouldn't get out

so he handed one of the Bluest seats there is to Djerk and the repukes. :grr: :banghead: :argh: First LA02, then Mass., now this. Jebus. :eyes: