Senator Jill Tokuda, Rep Chris Lee, and Self-Absorbed Airhead Kaniela Ing Considering Run for CD2

Only One Question: Who will now jump in against old boy operative Kai Kahele?

HTH Oct 27, 2019 Congressional race likely to get crowded:  … likely names started popping up early Friday among political prognosticators and on social media, including former state Sen. Jill Tokuda, who chaired the powerful Ways and Means Committee, former Senate President Donna Mercado Kim, former Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin and former Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho…..

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KITV Oct 25, 2019: Gabbard's decision breaks 2nd District race wide open… I'd be very surprised if that race for the 2nd congressional district didn't draw at least half a dozen other people…

former State Rep. (and unemployed BMW mechanic) Kaniela Ing says he's already hearing from people who want him to run.  He says for now, he wants to see what Kahele has to offer the district, but understands for many Hawaii politicians with aspirations of higher office, this is a rare opportunity that might only come around once every decade.

"There are people waiting not just millennials, but Gen X'ers and baby boomers it just skipped so many generations waiting for this seat," Ing says (still not realizing that he is finished, lol)….

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KHON Oct 25, 2019: Former state senator and Lt. Gov. Candidate Jill Tokuda could be one of the possible CD2 candidates.  Her campaign told KHON2 that she’s “exploring her options and will certainly give it great thought but she’s not ready to make a decision yet.”

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Star-Adv Oct 26, 2019: State Rep. Chris Lee “I woke up to about 100 text messages and calls this morning about it,” Lee said Friday. “It’s something that, maybe at this point, I definitely have to do some soul-searching and thinking about.”

Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, who represents the Leeward Coast, said she also had been contacted by multiple people gauging her interest.

Asked whether she’ll enter the race, Pine was adamant.

“No, no, no,” Pine told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

“No one could beat Tulsi Gabbard if she ran,” said Pine, who was a colleague of Gabbard’s when they both served in the state Legislature.

But with Gabbard’s decision to not seek reelection, Pine expects the race will soon become “a very crowded field. … I would imagine that a lot of people, even Mayor Caldwell, would be looking at that seat.”

Moore said some of the most familiar names being talked about — including former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who lost to Gabbard in 2012 — face challenges of being Oahu- centric or too closely aligned with Hawaii’s Democratic Party….

Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association, said in a text to the Star-Advertiser, “I have not considered a run for this office as presently I find my work and other responsibilities very fulfilling enabling me to continue to positively contribute to our community.”

TGI: Kahele discusses Gabbard’s decision not to seek re-election

Big Q: What’s your reaction to U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard not seeking reelection to Congress?  

SA: What happens after Gabbard goes?

CB: Tulsi Gabbard Should Quit Congress Right Now

Hooser: Tulsi, Kahele…and the candidate stampede to follow  

Cataluna: The gutless game of only playing if you can win  (If Kaheke is so gutsy then he shouldn't mind a little competition.)

As a service to our readers, we queued the video to the 4:05 mark where Gabbard actually gets around to saying she won't be running for reelection to her congressional seat.  If you want to hear what we had to listen to in order to get to 4:05, reset to start from the beginning. 

Flashback to the Beginning: To Stop Mufi, Mrs Abercrombie Joins the Chris Butler Cult