Hanabusa Angrier With Abercrombie Than Schatz but Followed Inouye's Orders

The Hill: The source close to Hanabusa said the congresswoman was still debating which race to undertake through Monday, describing it as a “really tough decision,” because she was angrier at Abercrombie but preferred legislating to an executive position — and took Inouye's wish to see her in the Senate seriously. She is expected to publicly declare a run for the office later on Tuesday....

Hanabusa ... is close with many of the state's powerful unions, who have been less than thrilled with Abercrombie's tenure in office. Hawaii's Democratic Party is rife with factionalism, and racial politics sometimes play a part in party divisions.

The two split on a major vote on sequestration earlier this year: Hanabusa voted against a bill to continue funding the government at current levels for six months because the language included sequestration cuts while Schatz joined most of his party to vote for it.

Hawaii has a large number of military bases that could see significant cuts in federal spending due to sequestration.

Hanabusa wrote an op-ed in the Hawaii Reporter afterward warning sequestration would “slowly eliminate critical government programs and defund vital operations and services.”

The split may become part of the campaign, though the source close to Hanabusa said she would focus more broadly on the economy and on finding someone who could help Hawaii as much as Inouye did while in Congress.

“The economy is going to be a significant focus, not just the sequester. Hawaii doesn't run as well without Sen. Inouye. We talk about the fiscal cliff — some folks around here talk about the Inouye cliff,” said the source. “There's clearly going to be a discussion of their different approaches and different priorities. Schatz has put a lot of emphasis on his environmental record whereas Rep. Hanabusa has had a lot more substantive interests in more issues.”

read ... The Hill

WaPo: Hanabusa will challenge Schatz in Hawaii Senate primary

Politico: Colleen Hanabusa endorsed by EMILY's List

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Hanabusa will run for Senate against incumbent

SA: U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa has decided to challenge U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Demo­cratic primary next year, according to a source close to her campaign....

Hanabusa had been considering primary challenges to either Schatz or Abercrombie. A source close to her campaign said Monday that Hana­busa had decided on the Senate and was informing close allies.

A primary between Schatz, 40, and Hana­busa, 61, could open up generational as well as political fault lines within the Demo­cratic Party. Schatz, a progressive, has the potential to build seniority in the Senate over a generation. Hana­busa, a more traditional liberal, will contend that her experience prepares her to have an immediate impact, the source said....

Hanabusa was elected to represent urban Hono­lulu's 1st Congressional District in 2010 and re-elected in 2012. She would have to give up her seat to run for the Senate, which will set off competition among several Demo­crats to replace her.

read ... Bye Bye Brian?

Politico: Hanabusa likely to enter Senate race, Dems Will Give no Money to Schatz

Hawaii Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is expected to announce she is challenging appointed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in a primary race in the 2014 cycle, a person familiar with her plans said....

A Hanabusa spokesperson couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, and it was unclear when she will make her decision known formally.

She recently met with officials at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The DSCC has endorsed Schatz, but a national Democrat said the committee is unlikely to spend money on the fight since the seat is considered safe.

Read ... Hanabusa vs Schatz

Related: Hanabusa, DSCC Discuss Challenging Schatz

Background: www.TheRealHanabusa.com

Photos: Brian Schatz Campaigning at Home of Larry Mehau