UPDATE from www.Djou.com
Honolulu, HI - Congressman Charles K. Djou will hold a press conference tomorrow regarding his future plans:
- WHO: Former Congressman Charles Djou and Former Congresswoman Pat Saiki
- WHAT: Press Conference
- WHERE: Stone Factory Warehouse, 220 Puuhale Road, Honolulu, HI
- WHEN: 12noon; Wednesday, August 17, 2011
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POLITICO--Djou runs in Hawaii
EXCLUSIVE – DJOU TO RUN IN HAWAII-1: Charles Djou will announce today that he plans to challenge freshman Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who beat him last November, for Hawaii's first congressional district. His announcement speech, which will be delivered against the backdrop of an empty industrial warehouse, will focus on his ability to work across party lines. "Instead of focusing on how to grow our economy, our government remains partisan, polarized, and worst of all, paralyzed,” he will say. “Hawaii, in particular, has become exceptionally isolated and vulnerable in Washington D.C because of the lack of a bipartisan congressional delegation that is willing to talk with both sides of the aisle.” Djou faces an uphill battle in the deep-blue state, where a Hawaii native will be at the top of the ticket next year. His House bid suggests that former Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, a close ally, plans to run for the open Senate seat. Otherwise he probably would have kept his options open a little longer.
SA: Djou expected to announce another run for Congress today
Former Honolulu city councilman and Hawaii congressman Charles Djou is expected to announce today that he will enter the race to unseat U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in a potential rematch of their 2010 race.
Djou, a Republican, plans to make the announcement at noon in Honolulu with former Hawaii congresswoman Pat Saiki at his side.
The website Politico reported today that he will stress working across party lines and growing the economy in his announcement.
HR: Djou's 2012 Congressional Campaign to Focus on Job Creation
His press conference will be held in Kalihi, one of Oahu's main industrial districts, which will help bring home Djou's emphasis on the importance of job creation and the economy. Djou's campaign themes are in line with all major presidential candidates including President Barack Obama and the top Republican candidates vying for America's top political office in 2012.
Former Republican Congresswoman Pat Saiki (1987-1991) will join Djou at his announcement. On Tuesday, Djou told Mike Buck, KHVH New Radio's afternoon talk show host, that he greatly admired Saiki when she was in Congress and actually volunteered for her campaign when he was 16 years old. Djou, now 41 years old, said his relationship with Saiki, 81, has come full circle and she is now helping him on his Congressional campaign.
Djou told Hawaii Reporter in past interviews, and re-emphasized to his supporters in an email on Monday, that Hawaii is isolated by the lack of bipartisan representation in Hawaii's Congressional delegation.
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Roll Call: Djou Expected to Try to Win Back House Seat
The Djou campaign told supporters about his announcement plans in a Monday morning email, stating that “Hawaii has become isolated in the U.S. House by the lack of bipartisan representation in our Congressional delegation.” Both of Hawaii’s House Members are Democrats.
Djou has stepped up his outreach efforts in recent weeks. On July 28, he published an editorial in the Hawaii Reporter that knocked the state’s one-party Congressional delegation, then appeared to lean toward a House run in interviews with a handful of news outlets.
Some Democrats believe Djou is counting on Hanabusa to run for the Senate, with an open seat giving him a better chance of returning to Capitol Hill. But according to a source close to Hanabusa, she remains undecided about a Senate bid.
A proposed redistricting map currently under public review could give Djou a small boost. That plan would add to the 1st district the only state House district that voted last year for GOP gubernatorial nominee Duke Aiona over now-Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D), according to a GOP insider.
Politico: Djou will challenge Hanabusa
His announcement speech, which will be delivered against the backdrop of an empty industrial warehouse, will focus on his ability to work across party lines.
"Instead of focusing on how to grow our economy, our government remains partisan, polarized, and worst of all, paralyzed,” he will say in remarks released exclusively to POLITICO.
“Hawaii, in particular, has become exceptionally isolated and vulnerable in Washington D.C because of the lack of a bipartisan congressional delegation that is willing to talk with both sides of the aisle.”