HONOLULU — Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced Tuesday that she will seek a third term in office, amid a vow to keep fighting for families, workers and communities throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
“As an immigrant raised by a single mom, I grew up in a family where, no matter how hard we tried, it was a struggle just to get by. I ran for the United States Senate to fight for families just like mine, to be a voice for families across Hawai‘i in Washington, D.C., and to address the many challenges impacting our communities,” said Hirono in a statement.
“We’ve made historic progress — especially over the last two years — to cap health care costs for seniors, increase support for veterans, fight climate change and rebuild our infrastructure. We can’t stop now.
“We need to build on this progress and continue delivering results for working families in Hawai‘i. There’s more work to be done to make child care and health care affordable, improve educational opportunities for all students, and support Hawai‘i’s underserved communities.”
In announcing her reelection bid, Hirono also called out her colleagues across the aisle for their positions on hot-button political issues, including abortions and gun control.
“At the same time, Republicans are working to take our country backwards, undermine our democracy, and callously strip away our rights and freedoms,” said Hirono in a statement.
“I always look for common ground where it is possible, but I will also continue to stand up to Republicans who want to pass a nationwide abortion ban, make it easier for dangerous people to get guns, and harder for people to vote.
“As your senator, I’ll keep fighting, on your side, to build an economy that works for working families and ensure every person has the opportunity to succeed.”
Hirono was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012 when she defeated Republican Linda Lingle by nearly 25 percentage points. Hirono was reelected in 2018 when she beat Republican Ron Curtis by more than 41 percentage points.
Hirono is currently the only senator of Japanese descent. She sits on several committees, including the Senate Judiciary Committee and Armed Services Committee.
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Wyatt Haupt Jr., editor, can be reached at 808-245-0457 or whaupt@thegardenisland.com.
