by Andrew Walden
The results are in from the first reading of election results from the Special Election to fill Hawaii’s First Congressional District seat. The urban Honolulu seat vacated by the resignation of Neil Abercrombie—who is running for Governor—has not elected a Republican to Congress since Rep Pat Saiki quit to run for Senate in 1990. But Honolulu voters tonight gave Republican County Councilman Charles Djou an 8.7% margin of victory with 170,312 ballots cast in the first read. The first read includes well over 90% of all ballots cast. A second read, including last minute ballots received today by the Election Commission, should be made available later tonight.
UPDATE: Second read available (see below) 171,417 votes cast = 54% turnout
Interestingly, the second-place finisher was not Ed Case—as had been predicted by every public poll in months, but rather Colleen Hanabusa, whose chances had been discounted by the Case campaign, its allies in Obama’s National Democratic organization, and local papers partly owned by Case’s uncle Dan H. Case. Case received only 27.6% of the vote while Hanabusa received 30.8%.
Djou will fill the remaining seven months of Abercrombie’s term.
An election for a full Congressional term will be held November 2. In that race, Djou will face off against the winner of a September 18 Democrat Primary. Democrat strategists are counting on voters to unite behind the Democrat nominee in the one-on-one contest, but many local observers doubt that theory. Instead they point to the outcome of the 1986 First District Congressional election (see below) in which Republican Pat Saiki swept into office after a bruising Democratic Primary fight between Neil Abercrombie and Mufi Hannemann. The rivalry between Obama-backer Ed Case and the Clinton-oriented Inouye faction backing Colleen Hanabusa is every bit as intense as 1986—and the effect is magnified by the fact that Abercrombie and Hannemann will be facing off in the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary race this September.
Hawaii's First Congressional District voted 72% for Barack Obama in 2008. It is the site of his birth and was his home until he graduated Punahou and left to go to Occidental College in Los Angeles.
Statements from Charles Djou and Republican leaders are below as is a statement from Colleen Hanabusa. No statement has yet been issued by Ed Case’s campaign.
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RESULTS (first read):
- (R) DJOU, Charles 67,274 39.5%
- (D) HANABUSA, Colleen 52,445 30.8%
- (D) CASE, Ed 47,012 27.6%
RESULTS (second read):
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(R) DJOU, Charles 67,610 39.4%
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(D) HANABUSA, Colleen 52,802 30.8%
- (D) CASE, Ed 47,391 27.6%
LINK: Special Election 2010 precinct Results
ADV: GOP's Djou wins Hawaii special election for Congress
SB: Djou wins special election for Congress
September 20, 1986 special election results:
29,88% N Abercrombie (D)
29,20% P Saiki (R)
28,30% M Hannemann (D)
September 20, 1986 democratic primary:
40,22% M Hannemann (D)
39,21% N Abercrombie (D)
November 4, 1986 election results:
59,20% P Saiki (R)
37,45% M Hannemann (D)
CHAIRMAN KA'AUWAI: HAWAI'I CELEBRATES A NEW DAY WITH DJOU VICTORY
Djou campaign reinvigorated thousands of Hawai’i voters, volunteers, Republicans
“Charles Djou’s convincing victory is a testament to his message of fiscal responsibility, job creation and government accountability. As our economy continues to drag and more and more grow concerned with the direction our President is taking our Country, Charles’ voice in Congress will champion people over political party and special interests.
“Charles has reinvigorated Republicans in Hawai’i and we are proud to call him our Congressman. The campaign Charles ran should be a blueprint for campaigns across our great country; a localized message and a strong ground game that is a credit to the thousands of volunteers who helped him across the finish line. Tonight Republicans across Hawai’i can celebrate a new day and a bright leader who has a very promising future in Congress.”
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Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today from Washington:
"I would like to congratulate Charles Djou on his incredible victory in Hawaii's 1st Congressional District. His success and this victory came in Barack Obama's hometown, a district the President carried by a margin of 70-28% in 2008. Charles' victory is evidence his conservative message of lowering the tax burden, job creation and government accountability knows no party lines. It is a message Americans want to hear from candidates across the country.
This race was about the people of Hawaii and not the union bosses and special interest groups that tried to influence the outcome. Charles Djou is the type of candidate and ran the type of campaign that will help lead us to historic gains this November. Along with the NRCC who worked so hard in this race, we are proud to welcome him to Congress and know his future is bright in the Republican Party."
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Sessions Statement on Charles Djou’s Victory in the Hawaii Special Election
“Eighteen months ago, President Obama carried this district with seventy percent of the vote, which makes Charles Djou’s victory an impressive one.”
Washington- National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) issued the following statement after Republican Charles Djou was declared the winner in the special election to fill the vacant seat in Hawaii’s First Congressional District:
"I congratulate Charles Djou for his victory and a successful campaign based on the widely-shared values of cutting spending, shrinking government and creating real, permanent American jobs. I have no doubt that Hawaii families will be well-represented in Congress as he joins our fight to return common sense economic policies and fiscal sanity to Washington.
“Eighteen months ago, President Obama carried this district with seventy percent of the vote, which makes Charles Djou’s victory an impressive one. Tonight, the voters of Hawaii reaffirmed that middle class families are looking for fresh, new leaders who will take this country in a new direction and serve as a check and balance to Washington Democrats’ reckless and unpopular policies of deficit spending, higher taxes and fewer jobs. Charles Djou’s victory not only changes the makeup of the House of Representatives, but it helps Republicans move one step closer toward winning back the majority in November. Both Charles and his wife Stacey worked tirelessly in this campaign and tonight it paid off.”
“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Chairman Steele and the Republican National Committee for the money and manpower they provided in this winning effort. I am grateful for all that he and his team have done to help ensure that 2010 is a successful year for the Republican Party and the entire slate of candidates running across the country.”
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May 22, 2010
Statement of Congressional Candidate Colleen Hanabusa
As tonight’s election results have shown, Charles Djou will serve the remainder of the First Congressional Seat vacated by Neil Abercrombie.
With over 50% of the voters in Congressional District 1 turning out in what is the highest voter turnout in any Hawaii special election, it is clear that the people of Hawaii know the importance of this election in ensuring the people of Hawaii are properly represented in Congress.
I thank you, the voters, for your faith and hope in the future of Hawaii. Tonight is definitely not the final word on who represents you in Congress. I thank my supporters and the dozens of volunteers who have contributed countless hours to this campaign.
You are the core and spirit of this campaign. I am grateful and humbled by your unwavering support. Without you, we would not have able to reach out to over 75,000 voters in the district. Without you, these results would not have been possible.
Tonight, the voters of Congressional District 1 have spoken. The results prove that we can win when it really matters—the primary in September and the general election in November. Now is the time for all of us to re-engage and re-energize, because we are in it to win it!
Some told us that we shouldn’t be in this race. They told us to sit on the sidelines. They insisted that we were going to fail. But momentum has been on our side, and continues to build to our advantage. Tonight’s results are a clear statement that our votes are for Hawaii values and priorities, and Hawaii voters have voted for representation that they believe—that they know—that I am a viable candidate who will work across party lines and will work diligently with Hawaii’s best interest at heart and in mind. I have always had faith in the people of Hawaii, and am so very deeply encouraged by voters’ support and faith.
I welcome the task ahead of unifying Hawaii’s Democrats for the primary and general elections. I thank Senators Inouye and Akaka for their unwavering support in this journey of ensuring a better life for all in the state of Hawaii.
It is clear that despite the polls, the voters believe I am the more electable Democratic candidate who will stand strong for our values and priorities. Now is the time to reboot as we head straight into the primary election. I will continue campaigning as Hawaii’s favored Democratic candidate.
I said it before, and I’m saying it again, I’m in this race until the end, and I’m in this race to win. I thank you for your support thus far and humbly ask for your votes as we move into the Primary Election in September and the General Election in November.
This campaign is and always will be for the people of Hawaii. So thank you dear friends, for joining me on this journey, and continuing this journey with me.
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