Djou Sets Sights On Hanabusa Rematch

By Sean Sullivan  //  July 29, 2011 | 2:12 p.m.
Updated: August 2, 2011 | 6:30 a.m.

Former Rep. Charles Djou, R-Hawaii, is closely considering a run for his old seat in Hawaii's 1st Congressional District regardless of whether Democratic Rep. Colleen Hanabusa vacates the seat to make a Senate bid, he told Hotline On Call Friday.

"I am giving very serious thought about running again, running for the House, running for the first congressional district," Djou told Hotline On Call. "And that's whether or not Colleen Hanabusa decides to run for the Senate."

Djou, who emailed supporters Thursday to say he was "troubled by the lack of bipartisan leadership by Hawaii's representatives in the US House," is also considering making a Senate bid, if former Gov. Linda Lingle, the strongest potential Republican candidate, decides not to run. Lingle was recently in Washington and has said she will make a decision by August. Djou says based on his conversations with the former governor, she hasn't made up her mind yet.

"Part of my decision-making matrix is Governor Lingle hasn't formally decided as to what she is going to do with the U.S. Senate race, and if she should decide not to run for the United States Senate, that is something I will also -- I'm not saying I'm going to run for it -- but it is something I will give serious consideration."

Hanabusa, too, has signaled that a decision on whether she will enter the Senate race will also likely come by August. Already, 2nd District Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono has entered the Democratic Senate primary, as has former Rep. Ed Case. Hirono has already landed the endorsement of EMILY's List, a sign they prefer her over a potential candidacy by Hanabusa. If Hanabusa decides to enter the race, the more centrist Case could stand to benefit from potential vote-splitting between the two members of Congress. Djou was the beneficiary of vote-splitting between Case and Hanabusa during a three-way 2010 special election to fill former-Rep. and now-Gov. Neil Abercrombie's seat. Djou lost the seat to Hanabusa in the November general election. Even with the myriad possibilities facing Djou, the former congressman appears to be zeroing in on a bid for his old seat. "I'm moving in the direction of running again, for U.S. House, for my old seat," Djou said.

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