Akaka announces he will not run for re-election in 2012
Senator will serve out the rest of his term and allow Hawaii voters to choose his successor
Wed, March 2, 2011 NEWS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement today:
After months of thinking about my political future, I am announcing today that I have decided not to run for re-election in 2012. As many of you can imagine, it was a very difficult decision for me. However, I feel that the end of this Congress is the right time for me to step aside. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the people of Hawaii. In 2006, the people of Hawaii gave me an opportunity to continue my service in the United States Senate and I fully intend to serve the last two years of my term in office.
At the end of this term, I will have served almost 22 years in the United States Senate and, prior to that, more than 13 years in the United States House of Representatives. I am proud of my accomplishments and my incredible staff in Washington, D.C. and Hawaii. They have exemplified the true meaning of being a public servant. They have worked tirelessly and without their dedication and loyalty, I could not have accomplished all that I did.
Millie and I will return to Hawaii at the end of this Congress and spend time with our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I would also like to spend time documenting my life and career, and serving as a mentor to future political leaders. I have always strived to serve the people with much love and aloha, never forgetting my humble beginnings, and it is my hope that they, too, will continue this tradition. We must never forget that we, as political leaders, work for the people of Hawaii and not the special interests.
I will always cherish the time I spent working in Washington, D.C., and extend my heartfelt thanks to the people of Hawaii for their confidence in me.
I would like to thank my family, my staff and my friends for their unwavering support. I would like to especially thank my wife, Millie, for her continuous support and encouragement. I could not have done it without her.
Finally, I would like to thank Senator Dan Inouye. I will forever be grateful for his friendship and steadfast support.
-END-
Statement from Governor Neil Abercrombie on U.S. Senator Akaka Announcement to Retire
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2011
His soul is one with Hawai'i. His love for Hawai'i and ours for him is as one. He is a true son of Hawai'i that we welcome back home with hearts full of the aloha that is Daniel Akaka.
The words aloha and Akaka are interchangeable. Daniel Akaka is Hawai'i.
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Broken Trust Pg 163: “Daniel Akaka defended the Trustees. He said the level of compensation was not too high. If anything, the trustees deserved to be paid more.” (Now you know what Abercrombie is talking about.)
MORE REALITY:
Lingle advisor Klompus to work in “consulting”, write Lingle book
Lenny Klompus, the senior communications adviser to former Gov. Linda Lingle, is leaving his post in state House Minority Leader Gene Ward’s office at the end of the week.
Klompus said he plans to work in consulting and radio and has an outline for a book on the Lingle years. “It’s not going to be like the Cayetano book,” he said of former Gov. Ben Cayetano’s no-holds-barred autobiography.
Best comment: “Consulting”? As in “Consulting on Lingle’s future senate campaign?”
read more
SA: AKAKA WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2012
Akaka informed his staff and U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, the state's top Democrat, of his decision this evening in Washington.
…questions have been raised about his effectiveness and whether he should pursue another six-year term.
Akaka had said previously that he planned to run for re-election, but had not raised much money for a campaign.
Several Democrats, including Inouye, have expressed concern about his fundraising. Some Democrats also worried about whether Akaka could withstand a tough re-election campaign. Former Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican with proven fundraising prowess, is thinking about a potential Senate run.
Akaka was replaced this year as chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. He is chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and is a leading member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He also has prominent oversight roles over homeland security and federal parks.
AP: Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii won't seek re-election
The 86-year-old announced Wednesday that he'll finish his term and step down after 22 years in the Senate.
Akaka said in a statement that "the end of this Congress is the right time for me to step aside." He didn't expand on his reasons for not running again.
FOX: Hawaii Senator Akaka Not Seeking Re-Election
Potential Democrats who could run for his seat: Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz and Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa.
There had been concern among Democrats about Akaka's ability to fundraise against a Republican upstart like Linda Lingle, who gave the nominating speech for Sarah Palin at the 2008 Republican National Convention and has expressed interest a Senate run. Akaka's colleague Sen. Daniel Inouye, also of Hawaii, said last week he would not be able to offer Akaka financial support for his campaign, as had been done in the past.
The Hill: Akaka of Hawaii won't run again, opening another Dem seat
National Journal: Akaka Won't Seek Re-Election
WaPo: Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka won't seek re-election
ABC: Another Democrat Departs the Senate: Daniel Akaka Not Seeking Re-Election
Akaka becomes the fifth Democratic senator to decide not to run for re-election in 2012, joining a group that already includes Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and Jim Webb of Virginia.
A whopping 23 Democratic-held Senate seats are up for re-election in 2012, complicating Democrats’ chances of retaining control of the upper chamber of Congress.
Hot Air: Oh my: Sen. Daniel Akaka won’t run for reelection in 2012
I figure this increases the GOP’s chances of stealing the seat from zero to, oh, let’s say 10 percent. Yes, there’s a prominent, tested Republican who’s interested in running: Linda Lingle, whose second term as governor just ended, has been hinting at it for months and should be ready to roll now that she doesn’t have to face Akaka. Big problems lie ahead, though. First, Hawaii’s a deep blue state so Democrats predictably have a deep blue bench. Second, although Lingle did win two terms, she didn’t go out on a high note. A Honolulu Star-Advertiser poll taken a few months before she left office pegged her approval rating at 44/51. As recently as 2006, she had 73 percent approval. (A choice quote from that same article: “Akaka, 86, said he definitely plans to run for a fifth six-year term in 2012.”) I’m surprised she’s eager to run again given that degree of disenchantment. And third, needless to say, Hawaii’s favorite son will be at the top of the ballot in two years so Democrats will be out in even greater numbers than usual. If The One can’t drag a liberal over the finish line there against a mildly unpopular former governor, he’s a one-termer for sure.
Still, a 10 percent chance is better than nothing. And more importantly, it’s going to force Democrats to spend money to defend this seat whereas they probably could have done it on the cheap with Akaka. That means less money to spend elsewhere — and there are a lot of “elsewheres” in 2012. Tell ‘em what’s up, Charlie.