“Another electoral victory for Hawaiian Jews”
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The correct term is “Hebrewaiians.”
As for the Senate race, this is another example of our lack of a bench biting us in the arse. Only three Republicans have the profile to run a competitive gubernatorial or congressional race in HI: Charles Djou, Duke Aiona and Linda Lingle. Instead of running for the Senate (where he’d be a bit of a longshot), Djou is running for Congress in the Honolulu-based HI-01, which gives him a better chance of victory because (i) he served a partial term there in 2010-11, (ii) it is less Democrat that the other CD or the state as a whole, having given Bush 47% in 2004, and (iii) it is an open seat due to Hanabusa’s (unsuccessful) Senate run. Former Lt. Gov. Aiona is running for governor, where he has a real shot of winning in a three-way race. As for Lingle, she got clobbered by Hirono in the 2012 Senate race (Obama was getting over 70% in HI in the same election) and decided not to try again. So I’m not sure who could replace Cavasso on the ballot and beat Shatz (unless Hianabusa launches an independent bid for the Senate and splits the Dem vote).
“unless Hianabusa launches an independent bid for the Senate and splits the Dem vote”
Eh, she couldn’t win the primary even running an “I was robbed” campaign (if she did do that, because I’m just making that up now; but the pundits seems to think she was).’
Unless she thinks she’d have some big cross-over appeal to Rs or Is, she’d basically be risking the rest of her political career with the party.
And I’m assuming she’s maybe too young to burn those bridges.
Bribing Hannemann to switch parties and leave the Governor’s race would have been ideal.
Lingle probably expected to be facing Hanabusa.
I think she made a mistake running in ‘12 and letting that doomed experience discourage her running this time. If only Inouye had retired in 2010, I think would have been elected that year.
I’d have to say Cavasso’s chances are pretty much zero, any number of people could raise the odds to at least 10%. Ideally a Native Hawaiian or Japanese as DJ says.
Pat Saiki is only 84, spring chicken for a Hawaiian Senator. ;p Cynthia Thielen (State Rep., 2006 nominee that did respectably against Akaka) is only 80.
What about Prince What’shisname, the guy who was supposed to run for Congress but didn’t?
How about 1 of the other Republicans in the State House, Former Miss Hawaii Lauren Matsumoto (married name, she’s White) is too young (imagine adding her to a Congressional delegation that already includes Gabbard), but there’s Beth Fukumoto (the only non-White Republican besides Thielen), the freshman Minority “Floor” Leader (the “Minority Leader” and each party has 3 Whips, I don’t get it, all 7 Republicans have a title).
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/leadership.aspx?chamber=H