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Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii)

U.S. Representative (since January 2011)

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Why She Matters

Hanabusa wrestled Rep. Neil Abercrombie's (D) seat back into Democratic hands after Rep. Charles Djou (R-Hawaii) won a May 2010 special election in which Hanabusa split the Democratic vote with another candidate.

The first Asian-American woman to preside over a state legislature, Hanabusa's third House run was victorious, after unsuccessful campaigns in 2003 and 2006.

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At a Glance

  • Career History: Hawaii State Senator (1998-2011); President, Hawaii State Senate (2006-2011)
  • Alma Mater: University of Hawaii (B.A., 1973, M.A., 1975), William S. Richardson School of Law (1977)
  • DC Office: 238 Cannon HOBWashington, DC 20515Phone: (202) 225-2726Fax: (202) 225-0688
  • State/District Office: 250 Ward Ave., Ste. 170, Honolulu, HI 96814
  • Web site
 

Path To Power

Hanabusa, who received a B.A., M.A. and J.D. from the University of Hawaii, worked as a labor lawyer before entering politics, where she helped manage two mayoral campaigns in 1994 and 1996.

She was elected a state senator in her own first run for office, in 1998, and was labeled the "leader of the pack" by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin as the standout in that Senate's freshman class.

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The Issues

As Hawaiian Senate president, Hanabusa has pushed for legislation for health insurance to cover birth control, to protect workers' right to organize and to secure funding for schools.

Hanabusa said her first priority in Congress would be to "put people back to work and get our economy moving again," by increasing investments in education and training initiatives, as well as strengthening the country's technology sector and energy policy to bolster America's infrastructure. "While the rising national debt continues to remain a concern, I do know that the more prosperous America is, the faster we can pay off the debt incurred," she said.

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The Network

Hanabusa was endorsed by former Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) and Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam).