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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.
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.
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.
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).
- Muranaka, Gwen. "The Candidate." Rafu.com, March 3, 2010.
- Rees, Robert. "Queen of the Senate." HonoluluWeekly.com, June 12, 2002.
- "Muranaka, Gwen. "The Candidate." Rafu.com, March 3, 2010.
- Rucker, Philip. "Obama's Hawaii Birthplace gives House seat to GOP." WashingtonPost.com, May 24, 2010.
- "Colleen Hanabusa for Congress: Issues." Hanabusa2010.com.
- "Smith, Ben. "DNC Poll: Only Case Can Win in Hawaii." Politico.com, May 3, 2010.
- Randle, Brianne. "Ed Case throws support behind Colleen Hanabusa." Khon2.com, May 30, 2010.
- "Colleen Hanabusa for Congress: Issues."Hanabusa2010.com.
- "Colleen Hanabusa for Congress: About." Hanabusa2010.com.
- Interview with campaign representative
- Rucker, Philip. "Obama's Hawaii Birthplace gives House seat to GOP." WashingtonPost.com, May 24, 2010.
- Taylor, Jessica. "Abercrombie endorses Hanabusa." Politico.com, June 3, 2010.
- State Results, Hawaii 01, Election Center 2010, CNN
- "Colleen Hanabusa for Congress: Issues." Hanabusa2010.com.
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