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Mazie Hirono

Mazie Keiko Hirono (/ˈmzi hiˈrn/; Japanese name: 広野 慶子, Hirono Keiko; born November 3, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Hawaii since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Hirono previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2007 to 2013. Hirono also served as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1981 to 1995 and as Hawaii's ninth lieutenant governor from 1994 to 2002, under Ben Cayetano. She was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for governor of Hawaii in 2002, defeated by Republican Linda Lingle in the general election.

Mazie Hirono
広野 慶子
Official portrait, 2013
United States Senator
from Hawaii
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Serving with Brian Schatz
Preceded byDaniel Akaka
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Hawaii's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byEd Case
Succeeded byTulsi Gabbard
9th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
In office
December 2, 1994 – December 2, 2002
GovernorBen Cayetano
Preceded byBen Cayetano
Succeeded byDuke Aiona
Member of the
Hawaii House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 1981 – December 2, 1994
Preceded byClifford Uwaine
David Hagino
Succeeded byTerry Yoshinaga
Constituency12th district (1981–1983)
20th district (1983–1985)
32nd district (1985–1993)
22nd district (1993–1994)
Personal details
Born
Mazie Keiko Hirono

(1947-11-03) November 3, 1947 (age 75)
Koori, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Leighton Kim Oshima
(m. 1987)
ResidenceHonolulu, Hawaii
EducationUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa (BA)
Georgetown University (JD)
Signature
WebsiteSenate website

Hirono is the first elected female senator from Hawaii, the first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate, the first U.S. senator born in Japan, and the nation's first Buddhist senator. She considers herself a non-practicing Buddhist[1][2] and is often cited with Hank Johnson as the first Buddhist to serve in the United States Congress.[3] She is also the third woman to be elected to Congress from Hawaii (after Patsy Mink and Pat Saiki).

In 2012, Hirono was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Daniel Akaka. Hirono won the election, defeating Lingle in a landslide, 63% to 37%. She was sworn in on January 3, 2013, by Vice President Joe Biden. Hirono was the only person of Asian ancestry serving in the U.S. Senate from 2013 until 2017, when senators Tammy Duckworth and Kamala Harris were sworn in, representing Illinois and California, respectively. Although Brian Schatz is Hawaii's senior senator because he joined the Senate a week before Hirono, following the death of Daniel Inouye, Hirono's three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives make her the dean, or longest-serving member overall, of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

Early life and education

Mazie Hirono was born on November 3, 1947, in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan to Laura Chie Satō, a Japanese American, and Hirono Matabe, a Japanese veteran of World War II. Mazie's maternal grandfather, Hiroshi Satō, immigrated to Hawaii to work on a sugar plantation at the age of 16; her grandmother, Tari Shinoki, immigrated to Hawaii as a picture bride.[4] After finding plantation work difficult, the couple opened a bathhouse on River Street in Honolulu in 1928. The couple had a daughter, Laura Chie, in 1924, and a son, Akira.

In 1939, Tari returned to Japan with the teenaged Laura and Akira; Hiroshi remained in Hawaii to run the bathhouse for two more years before joining his family in 1941. Laura felt out of place in Japan as one of the many Nisei Japanese Americans who emigrated with their returning Issei parents (barred from US citizenship or land ownership) before World War II and during the Great Depression. But although her brother returned to Hawaii after the war, she remained in Japan and married a veterinarian, Hirono Matabe, in 1946. Laura moved with her husband to southern Fukushima, and had three children, Roy, Mazie, and Wayne. Mazie, the middle child, was the only surviving daughter.[5]

Mazie's father, Matabe, was a compulsive gambler and alcoholic who pawned even his wife's possessions for gambling money.[5] Treated "like a slave" by her in-laws,[5] Mazie's mother finally left the abusive marriage in 1951. Laura later recounted her point of decision: "My brother sent money to buy a school uniform for my son. My husband took the money, went to town and never came back home. It was getting closer to the start of school, so I went to look for him. I found out he had ordered an overcoat for himself with the money. He didn't need an overcoat in the spring. That's when I made up my mind to leave."[4] After telling her in-laws she was going to take her children to school in her hometown, Laura left the house, never to return. Selling her clothes to pay the rail fare, she and the children moved back to her parents' home. Laura said, "My husband never came around once; my parents were supportive and took all of us in. My mother gave us money. I guess it all boils down to love."

The Satō-Hirono family decided to return to Hawaii, but under the U.S. quota system Tari and Hiroshi, as Japanese nationals without American citizenship or professional status, could not go with Laura, an American citizen. Thus the family was separated, with three-year-old Wayne staying behind with his grandparents and Laura returning to Honolulu on her own with Mazie and Roy in March 1955. After two years of hard work, she brought her parents and youngest son to Hawaii in 1957.[4] "She determined that she had to get away [from her husband]...she wanted to put thousands of miles between them", Hirono said of her mother. "That took a lot of courage. I always tell my mom there is nothing I can do—hard as it is to be in politics...harder than what she did."[4][5]

After first living with Mazie's uncle Akira, the family moved into a rooming house on Kewalo Street in Honolulu with one room, one table, three chairs and one bed. Laura recalled, "Mazie and Roy slept on the bed. I slept on the floor with a futon. The landlady was so nice. The rent was $35, but she charged us less because I didn't have a job."[4] Laura began working for the Hawaii Hochi as a typesetter and also three nights a week for a catering company. Mazie worked in the school cafeteria and had a paper route.[6] Though money was tight and the family was forced to move often, Laura kept them together. Mazie recalled that she and her brother used to get a dime once or twice a week from their mother. "We both had baseball piggy banks. My older brother spent all his dimes but I saved mine. But one day I came home and the dimes were gone. My mother had to use it to buy food."

Hirono never saw her father again, and he has since died.[7] Laura became a newspaper proofreader in 1961 and retired from the Hawaii Newspaper Agency in 1986; Roy became a Hawaiian Electric supervisor. Wayne drowned in 1978, aged 26. Mazie's grandfather Hiroshi died in 1989, and her grandmother Tari died in 2000 at age 99.[4][8]

Raised in Honolulu, Hirono became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1959, the year Hawaii became a state.[9] She attended Kaʻahumanu Elementary and Koko Head Elementary Schools. She graduated from Kaimuki High School, which at the time of her attendance had a predominantly Japanese American student body. Hirono then enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in psychology in 1970.[10] She left Hawaii to attend Georgetown University Law Center, where she obtained her J.D. degree in 1978. Hirono then returned to Honolulu, where she practiced law.[11]

Hawaii House of Representatives (1981–1994)

Elections

In 1980, Hirono was elected to Hawaii's 12th House district in a multi-member district with Democratic State Representative David Hagino.[12] Hawaii eliminated multi-member districts, and after redistricting she ran for Hawaii's 20th House district and won.[13] After redistricting again in 1984, she ran for the newly redrawn Hawaii's 32nd House district and won.[14] In 1992, after redistricting, she ran in the newly redrawn Hawaii's 22nd House district. She won the three-candidate Democratic primary with 91% of the vote.[15] She won the general election and served only one term in the 22nd district before retiring in 1994 to run for statewide office.[16]

Tenure

From 1980 to 1994, Hirono served in the Hawaii House of Representatives, passing more than 120 laws. She was honored by a coalition of leaseholders as Legislator of the Year in 1984.[citation needed]

Committee assignments

From 1987 to 1992, she was Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee.[17]

Lieutenant governor (1994–2002)

Elections

1994

Hirono ran for lieutenant governor of Hawaii and won the Democratic primary, defeating fellow State Representative Jackie Young 65%–26%.[18] In the general election she defeated three other candidates: Danny Kaniela Kaleikini (Best Party), State Representative Fred Hemmings (Republican Party), and Jack Morse (Green Party), 37%–31%–29%–4%.[19]

1998

Hirono ran for reelection in 1998. She was challenged in the primary by Nancy L. Cook and defeated her, 89%–11%.[20] In the general election Hirono defeated Republican State Senator Stan Koki 50%–49%, a difference of 5,254 votes.[21]

Tenure

In 1994 Hirono joined the ticket of incumbent Lieutenant Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano and was elected to a historic administration led by the first Filipino American governor and first Japanese immigrant lieutenant governor. During her tenure as lieutenant governor, she was president of the National Commission on Teaching, America's Future, and the Hawaii Policy Group. She also spearheaded the first-in-the-nation comprehensive Pre-Plus program, a precursor to universal preschool education in the United States.[citation needed]

2002 gubernatorial election

Hirono originally wanted to run for mayor of Honolulu in a potential 2002 special election created by the vacancy of incumbent Mayor Jeremy Harris, who was planning to resign in order to run for governor of Hawaii. But due to internal controversies, Harris dropped out of the gubernatorial election and remained mayor for another two years. Hirono switched races.

Hirono maneuvered to gain the support of potential Harris voters in her challenge against former State House Majority Leader Ed Case. Throughout the primary campaign, Hirono and Case polled almost equally. Hirono defeated Case in the September 21 Democratic primary, 41%–40%, a difference of 2,613 votes.[22][23][24]

A few weeks later, Republican nominee and Mayor of Maui Linda Lingle defeated Hirono 52–47%, becoming Hawaii's first female governor.[25][26]

U.S. House of Representatives (2007–2013)

 
Congresswoman Hirono during the 110th Congress

Elections

2006

On September 23, Hirono ran for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district being vacated by incumbent Ed Case. The Democratic primary was very competitive. There were ten candidates, seven of whom served in the Hawaii Legislature. Hirono's advantage was that she was the only candidate who had held statewide office and as a result had the most name recognition. She also raised the most money, mostly because of the endorsement of EMILY's List,[27] and lent her own campaign $100,000. She won with a plurality of 22% of the vote. State Senator Colleen Hanabusa finished second with 21%, 845 votes short of Hirono.[28][29]

In the general election Hirono defeated Republican State Senator Bob Hogue, 61%–39%.[30]

2008

Hirono won reelection to a second term with 76% of the vote.[31]

2010

Hirono won reelection to a third term with 72% of the vote.[32]

Tenure

In 2008, Hirono was named the national preschool advocacy organization Pre-K Now's "Pre-K Champion" for her efforts on behalf of pre-kindergarten legislation.[33]

Hirono co-sponsored and signed the Prevention First Act of 2007. The act aimed to increase public access to contraception and government funding to support the use of contraception.[34] It places an emphasis on informing and protecting women from unintended pregnancy.[34] On May 4, 2011, Hirono voted against the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which would have prohibited federal health care programs from covering abortion costs, with exceptions for life-threatening cases.[34]

In July 2011, Hirono voted for the Access to Birth Control Act, which mandates that pharmacies provide birth control to customers without undue delay.[34] The ABP Act also ensures that customers seeking birth control can obtain it without being submitted to unwanted harassment or breaches in patient confidentiality.[34]EMILY's List, a Democratic pro-choice action committee, pledged support to Hirono for her history of supporting contraceptive and abortion policies during her term.[34] Its endorsement helped Hirono in her 2012 senatorial race, contributing $129,714 to her campaign.[35][36]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

U.S. Senate (2013–present)

Elections

2012

On May 19, 2011, Hirono announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Daniel Akaka, who was retiring at the end of his term in 2012.[38] She won the Democratic primary election on August 11, 2012.[39] Hirono was endorsed as one of Democracy for America's Dean Dozen. The Republican nominee was former Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle. Hirono won the general election on November 6, 2012, with 63% of the vote.[40] She is the first female senator from Hawaii, as well as the first Asian-born immigrant to be elected to the U.S. Senate.[41] She was a part of the first completely non-Christian Congressional delegation from the state, which continued until the election of Mark Takai (an Episcopalian) in 2014 as Representative of Hawaii's 1st congressional district.[42]

In the 2012 campaign Hirono raised $5.2 million, with approximately 52% of that from large corporations. Lingle raised $5.5 million, with 74% from large corporations. Hirono spent $5 million and Lingle $4.8 million.[43]

2018

On November 6, 2018, Hirono was reelected with 71.2% of the vote, defeating Republican Ron Curtis.[44]

Tenure

On December 12, 2012, the Senate Democratic Steering Committee announced that Hirono would serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, giving her influence on matters ranging from approving nominations of federal judges to setting criminal-justice policy.

During the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination hearings in September 2018, Hirono became an outspoken defender of Christine Blasey Ford after Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, telling men to "shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change."[45][46][47]

In the wake of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Hirono called for the resignation of fellow senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley for their opposition to certifying the 2020 presidential election Electoral College count.[48] She also called for the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution to be invoked to remove Donald Trump from office.[49]

In April 2021, Hirono sponsored and the Senate passed a bill attempting to decrease hate crimes against Asian Americans due to xenophobia associated with COVID-19. The vote was 94–1, with Senator Hawley (R-MO) the only one who voted against the bill.[50]

In July 2022, Hirono joined in introducing the Youth Voting Rights Act, comprehensive legislation to enforce the Twenty-Sixth Amendment and expand youth access to voting. This legislation, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, was also introduced in the House by Representative Nikema Williams.[51]

Committee assignments (117th Congress)

 
Hirono speaking at the "No Muslim Ban Ever" rally outside the Supreme Court, April 2018

Caucus memberships

Political positions

 
Hirono at a Stop the Bans rally in 2019

According to On the Issues, Hirono's voting history places her in the "left/liberal" camp.[54] The American Conservative Union gave her a 2% lifetime conservative rating in 2020.[55]

Abortion

Hirono has a 100% rating from Naral Pro-Choice America.[54] She is also endorsed by EMILY's list for pro-choice women.[56] At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Hirono told the panel: "If you don't support abortion, don't get one, but leave everyone else to the painful decisions they have to make along with their physicians".[57]

Hirono called the June 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade "a horrific day in America".[58] She also said, "This will go down as one of the worst decisions in the history of the Court."[59]

Gun control

In 2016, she participated in the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster. Hirono expressed disappointment when the Democrat-proposed Feinstein Amendment (banning the sale of firearms to individuals on the terrorist watchlist) and the Republican-backed background check expansion and alert system (regarding guns being sold to terrorist watchlist suspects) both failed to pass the Senate.[60]

Health care

On July 28, 2017, two months after undergoing surgery for stage-four kidney cancer, Hirono spoke on the Senate floor and voted against the so-called "skinny repeal" of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).[61] MSNBC reporter Kyle Griffin filmed Hirono's speech and posted it on Twitter.[62]

In January 2019, during the 2018–19 United States federal government shutdown, Hirono was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to Commissioner of Food and Drugs Scott Gottlieb recognizing the efforts of the FDA to address the effect of the government shutdown on the public health and employees while expressing alarm "that the continued shutdown will result in increasingly harmful effects on the agency's employees and the safety and security of the nation's food and medical products."[63] Gottlieb said additional staff might be called in as needed.[64]

Hirono is a supporter of Medicare for All.[65]

Housing

In April 2019, Hirono was one of 41 senators to sign a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 Capacity Building program as authorizing "HUD to partner with national nonprofit community development organizations to provide education, training, and financial support to local community development corporations (CDCs) across the country" and expressing disappointment that Trump's budget "has slated this program for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development." The senators wrote of their hope that the subcommittee would support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020.[66]

Telecommunications

In April 2019, Hirono was one of seven senators to sponsor the Digital Equity Act of 2019, legislation establishing a $120 million grant program that would fund the creation and implementation of "comprehensive digital equity plans" in every state and a $120 million grant program to support projects developed by individuals and groups. The bill also gave the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) the role of evaluating and providing guidance for digital equity projects.[67]

Personal life

In May 2017, Hirono announced that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer, which had spread to her seventh rib.[68] The cancer was discovered in a chest X-ray in April before minor eye surgery.[69] Hirono's right kidney was removed on May 17, 2017, with a Cyberknife procedure to treat the rib lesion.[70][68] She returned to the Senate on May 22, 2017, and was reelected to a second term in 2018.[71]

As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Hirono's net worth was more than $4.3 million.[72]

In 2021, Viking Press published Hirono's autobiography, Heart of Fire: An Immigrant Daughter's Story.[73] Marie Claire listed the book among its "25 Great Memoirs to Pre-Order Now".[74]

Also in 2021, it was announced that Hirono would receive Japan's Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star for her "significant contributions in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting legislative exchanges between Japan and the United States".[75]

Electoral history

Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2002[76]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Linda Lingle 197,009 51.56% +2.74%
Democratic Mazie Hirono 179,647 47.01% -3.09%
Natural Law Bu Laʻia Hill 2,561 0.67% N/A
Libertarian Tracy Ryan 1,364 0.36% -0.72%
Independent Jim Brewer 1,147 0.30% N/A
Independent Daniel Cunningham 382 0.10% N/A
Total votes 382,110 100.00% N/A
Republican gain from Democratic
Hawaii's 2nd congressional district election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mazie Hirono 106,906 61.04%
Republican Bob Hogue 68,244 38.96%
Total votes 175,150 100.00%
Democratic hold
Hawaii's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mazie Hirono (inc.) 165,748 76.06%
Republican Roger B. Evans 44,425 20.39%
Independent Shaun Stenshol 4,042 1.85%
Libertarian Jeff Mallan 3,699 1.70%
Total votes 217,914 100.00%
Democratic hold
Hawaii's 2nd congressional district election, 2010[77]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mazie Hirono (incumbent) 132,290 72.19%
Republican John W. Willoughby 46,404 25.32%
Libertarian Pat Brock 3,254 1.78%
Independent Andrew Von Sonn 1,310 0.71%
Total votes 183,258 100.00%
Democratic hold
Democratic primary results[78]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mazie Hirono 134,745 57%
Democratic Ed Case 95,553 40%
Blank Votes 3,331 1%
Democratic Arturo Reyes 1,720 1%
Democratic Michael Gillespie 1,104 1%
Democratic Antonio Gimbernat 517 0.2%
Over Votes 110 0%
Total votes 237,080 100%
United States Senate election in Hawaii, 2012[79]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mazie Hirono 269,489 62.60% +1.25%
Republican Linda Lingle 160,994 37.40% +0.62%
Total votes 430,483 100.0% N/A
Democratic hold
Democratic primary results, Hawaii 2018[80]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mazie Hirono (incumbent) 201,679 100%
Total votes 201,679 100%
United States Senate election in Hawaii, 2018[81]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mazie Hirono (incumbent) 276,316 71.15% +8.55%
Republican Ron Curtis 112,035 28.85% -8.55%
Total votes 388,351 100% N/A
Democratic hold

See also

References

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  69. ^ Drewes, Paul (May 17, 2017). "Sudden surgery for Senator Mazie Hirono". KITV. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  70. ^ "US Senator Mazie Hirono Recovering After Kidney Surgery". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. May 17, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  71. ^ "Hirono returns to Senate following kidney surgery with message of thanks". KHON-TV. May 22, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  72. ^ "Mazie K Hirono – Net Worth – Personal Finances". OpenSecrets.org. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  73. ^ Hirono, Mazie K. (2021). Heart of Fire: An Immigrant Daughter's Story. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 9781984881601. OCLC 1198218656.
  74. ^ Epstein, Rachel (March 10, 2021). "25 Great New Memoirs to Add to Your TBR Pile". Marie Claire. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  75. ^ "2021 Autumn Conferment of Decoration: Senator Mazie Keiko Hirono". Embassy of Japan in the United States of America. November 3, 2021.
  76. ^ http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2002/general/02swgen4.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  77. ^ "Statistics of the General Election of November 2, 2010" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. June 3, 2011. pp. 14–15. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  78. ^ "PRIMARY ELECTION 2012 – State of Hawaii – Statewide" (PDF). State Of Hawaii Office of Elections. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  79. ^ "Hawaii General 2012 – State of Hawaii – Statewide November 6, 2012 – Final Summary Report" (PDF). files.hawaii.gov.
  80. ^ "2018 Hawaii primary election results" (PDF). Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  81. ^ "2018 Hawaii general election results" (PDF). Retrieved June 12, 2019.

Further reading

  • Totenberg, Nina (June 7, 2018). "The Quiet Rage Of Mazie Hirono". Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  • Boylan, Dan (March 21, 2007). "The Immigrant Congresswoman". MidWeek. Retrieved November 14, 2018.

External links

  • Senator Mazie Hirono official U.S. Senate website
  • Hirono for Senate campaign website
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
  • Mazie Hirono at Curlie
Hawaii House of Representatives
Preceded by
Clifford Uwaine
David Hagino
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
from the 12th district

1981–1983
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Mitsuo Shito
Daniel J. Kihano
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
from the 20th district

1983–1985
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Clarice Hashimoto
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
from the 32nd district

1985–1993
Succeeded by
Len Pepper
Preceded by Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
from the 22nd district

1993–1994
Succeeded by
Terry Yoshinaga
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
1994–2002
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Hawaii
2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Hawaii
(Class 1)

2012, 2018
Most recent
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Hawaii's 2nd congressional district

2007–2013
Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Hawaii
2013–present
Served alongside: Brian Schatz
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas United States Senator from New Mexico Order of precedence of the United States
as United States Senator from Hawaii

since January 3, 2013
Succeeded byas United States Senator from Massachusetts
Preceded by United States senators by seniority
48th
Succeeded by

mazie, hirono, mazie, keiko, hirono, japanese, name, 広野慶子, hirono, keiko, born, november, 1947, american, lawyer, politician, serving, junior, united, states, senator, from, hawaii, since, 2013, member, democratic, party, hirono, previously, served, member, un. Mazie Keiko Hirono ˈ m eɪ z i h i ˈ r oʊ n oʊ Japanese name 広野慶子 Hirono Keiko born November 3 1947 is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Hawaii since 2013 A member of the Democratic Party Hirono previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Hawaii s 2nd congressional district from 2007 to 2013 Hirono also served as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1981 to 1995 and as Hawaii s ninth lieutenant governor from 1994 to 2002 under Ben Cayetano She was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for governor of Hawaii in 2002 defeated by Republican Linda Lingle in the general election Mazie Hirono広野 慶子Official portrait 2013United States Senatorfrom HawaiiIncumbentAssumed office January 3 2013Serving with Brian SchatzPreceded byDaniel AkakaMember of the U S House of Representatives from Hawaii s 2nd districtIn office January 3 2007 January 3 2013Preceded byEd CaseSucceeded byTulsi Gabbard9th Lieutenant Governor of HawaiiIn office December 2 1994 December 2 2002GovernorBen CayetanoPreceded byBen CayetanoSucceeded byDuke AionaMember of the Hawaii House of RepresentativesIn office January 3 1981 December 2 1994Preceded byClifford UwaineDavid HaginoSucceeded byTerry YoshinagaConstituency12th district 1981 1983 20th district 1983 1985 32nd district 1985 1993 22nd district 1993 1994 Personal detailsBornMazie Keiko Hirono 1947 11 03 November 3 1947 age 75 Koori Fukushima Prefecture JapanPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseLeighton Kim Oshima m 1987 wbr ResidenceHonolulu HawaiiEducationUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa BA Georgetown University JD SignatureWebsiteSenate websiteHirono is the first elected female senator from Hawaii the first Asian American woman elected to the Senate the first U S senator born in Japan and the nation s first Buddhist senator She considers herself a non practicing Buddhist 1 2 and is often cited with Hank Johnson as the first Buddhist to serve in the United States Congress 3 She is also the third woman to be elected to Congress from Hawaii after Patsy Mink and Pat Saiki In 2012 Hirono was the Democratic nominee for the U S Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Daniel Akaka Hirono won the election defeating Lingle in a landslide 63 to 37 She was sworn in on January 3 2013 by Vice President Joe Biden Hirono was the only person of Asian ancestry serving in the U S Senate from 2013 until 2017 when senators Tammy Duckworth and Kamala Harris were sworn in representing Illinois and California respectively Although Brian Schatz is Hawaii s senior senator because he joined the Senate a week before Hirono following the death of Daniel Inouye Hirono s three terms in the U S House of Representatives make her the dean or longest serving member overall of Hawaii s congressional delegation Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Hawaii House of Representatives 1981 1994 2 1 Elections 2 2 Tenure 2 3 Committee assignments 3 Lieutenant governor 1994 2002 3 1 Elections 3 1 1 1994 3 1 2 1998 3 2 Tenure 4 2002 gubernatorial election 5 U S House of Representatives 2007 2013 5 1 Elections 5 1 1 2006 5 1 2 2008 5 1 3 2010 5 2 Tenure 5 3 Committee assignments 5 4 Caucus memberships 6 U S Senate 2013 present 6 1 Elections 6 1 1 2012 6 1 2 2018 6 2 Tenure 6 3 Committee assignments 117th Congress 6 4 Caucus memberships 7 Political positions 7 1 Abortion 7 2 Gun control 7 3 Health care 7 4 Housing 7 5 Telecommunications 8 Personal life 9 Electoral history 10 See also 11 References 12 Further reading 13 External linksEarly life and education EditMazie Hirono was born on November 3 1947 in Fukushima Prefecture Japan to Laura Chie Satō a Japanese American and Hirono Matabe a Japanese veteran of World War II Mazie s maternal grandfather Hiroshi Satō immigrated to Hawaii to work on a sugar plantation at the age of 16 her grandmother Tari Shinoki immigrated to Hawaii as a picture bride 4 After finding plantation work difficult the couple opened a bathhouse on River Street in Honolulu in 1928 The couple had a daughter Laura Chie in 1924 and a son Akira In 1939 Tari returned to Japan with the teenaged Laura and Akira Hiroshi remained in Hawaii to run the bathhouse for two more years before joining his family in 1941 Laura felt out of place in Japan as one of the many Nisei Japanese Americans who emigrated with their returning Issei parents barred from US citizenship or land ownership before World War II and during the Great Depression But although her brother returned to Hawaii after the war she remained in Japan and married a veterinarian Hirono Matabe in 1946 Laura moved with her husband to southern Fukushima and had three children Roy Mazie and Wayne Mazie the middle child was the only surviving daughter 5 Mazie s father Matabe was a compulsive gambler and alcoholic who pawned even his wife s possessions for gambling money 5 Treated like a slave by her in laws 5 Mazie s mother finally left the abusive marriage in 1951 Laura later recounted her point of decision My brother sent money to buy a school uniform for my son My husband took the money went to town and never came back home It was getting closer to the start of school so I went to look for him I found out he had ordered an overcoat for himself with the money He didn t need an overcoat in the spring That s when I made up my mind to leave 4 After telling her in laws she was going to take her children to school in her hometown Laura left the house never to return Selling her clothes to pay the rail fare she and the children moved back to her parents home Laura said My husband never came around once my parents were supportive and took all of us in My mother gave us money I guess it all boils down to love The Satō Hirono family decided to return to Hawaii but under the U S quota system Tari and Hiroshi as Japanese nationals without American citizenship or professional status could not go with Laura an American citizen Thus the family was separated with three year old Wayne staying behind with his grandparents and Laura returning to Honolulu on her own with Mazie and Roy in March 1955 After two years of hard work she brought her parents and youngest son to Hawaii in 1957 4 She determined that she had to get away from her husband she wanted to put thousands of miles between them Hirono said of her mother That took a lot of courage I always tell my mom there is nothing I can do hard as it is to be in politics harder than what she did 4 5 After first living with Mazie s uncle Akira the family moved into a rooming house on Kewalo Street in Honolulu with one room one table three chairs and one bed Laura recalled Mazie and Roy slept on the bed I slept on the floor with a futon The landlady was so nice The rent was 35 but she charged us less because I didn t have a job 4 Laura began working for the Hawaii Hochi as a typesetter and also three nights a week for a catering company Mazie worked in the school cafeteria and had a paper route 6 Though money was tight and the family was forced to move often Laura kept them together Mazie recalled that she and her brother used to get a dime once or twice a week from their mother We both had baseball piggy banks My older brother spent all his dimes but I saved mine But one day I came home and the dimes were gone My mother had to use it to buy food Hirono never saw her father again and he has since died 7 Laura became a newspaper proofreader in 1961 and retired from the Hawaii Newspaper Agency in 1986 Roy became a Hawaiian Electric supervisor Wayne drowned in 1978 aged 26 Mazie s grandfather Hiroshi died in 1989 and her grandmother Tari died in 2000 at age 99 4 8 Raised in Honolulu Hirono became a naturalized U S citizen in 1959 the year Hawaii became a state 9 She attended Kaʻahumanu Elementary and Koko Head Elementary Schools She graduated from Kaimuki High School which at the time of her attendance had a predominantly Japanese American student body Hirono then enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Manoa graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a B A in psychology in 1970 10 She left Hawaii to attend Georgetown University Law Center where she obtained her J D degree in 1978 Hirono then returned to Honolulu where she practiced law 11 Hawaii House of Representatives 1981 1994 EditElections Edit In 1980 Hirono was elected to Hawaii s 12th House district in a multi member district with Democratic State Representative David Hagino 12 Hawaii eliminated multi member districts and after redistricting she ran for Hawaii s 20th House district and won 13 After redistricting again in 1984 she ran for the newly redrawn Hawaii s 32nd House district and won 14 In 1992 after redistricting she ran in the newly redrawn Hawaii s 22nd House district She won the three candidate Democratic primary with 91 of the vote 15 She won the general election and served only one term in the 22nd district before retiring in 1994 to run for statewide office 16 Tenure Edit From 1980 to 1994 Hirono served in the Hawaii House of Representatives passing more than 120 laws She was honored by a coalition of leaseholders as Legislator of the Year in 1984 citation needed Committee assignments Edit From 1987 to 1992 she was Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee 17 Lieutenant governor 1994 2002 EditElections Edit 1994 Edit Hirono ran for lieutenant governor of Hawaii and won the Democratic primary defeating fellow State Representative Jackie Young 65 26 18 In the general election she defeated three other candidates Danny Kaniela Kaleikini Best Party State Representative Fred Hemmings Republican Party and Jack Morse Green Party 37 31 29 4 19 1998 Edit Hirono ran for reelection in 1998 She was challenged in the primary by Nancy L Cook and defeated her 89 11 20 In the general election Hirono defeated Republican State Senator Stan Koki 50 49 a difference of 5 254 votes 21 Tenure Edit In 1994 Hirono joined the ticket of incumbent Lieutenant Governor Benjamin J Cayetano and was elected to a historic administration led by the first Filipino American governor and first Japanese immigrant lieutenant governor During her tenure as lieutenant governor she was president of the National Commission on Teaching America s Future and the Hawaii Policy Group She also spearheaded the first in the nation comprehensive Pre Plus program a precursor to universal preschool education in the United States citation needed 2002 gubernatorial election EditMain article 2002 Hawaii gubernatorial election Hirono originally wanted to run for mayor of Honolulu in a potential 2002 special election created by the vacancy of incumbent Mayor Jeremy Harris who was planning to resign in order to run for governor of Hawaii But due to internal controversies Harris dropped out of the gubernatorial election and remained mayor for another two years Hirono switched races Hirono maneuvered to gain the support of potential Harris voters in her challenge against former State House Majority Leader Ed Case Throughout the primary campaign Hirono and Case polled almost equally Hirono defeated Case in the September 21 Democratic primary 41 40 a difference of 2 613 votes 22 23 24 A few weeks later Republican nominee and Mayor of Maui Linda Lingle defeated Hirono 52 47 becoming Hawaii s first female governor 25 26 U S House of Representatives 2007 2013 Edit Congresswoman Hirono during the 110th Congress Elections Edit 2006 Edit Main article 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii District 2 On September 23 Hirono ran for Hawaii s 2nd congressional district being vacated by incumbent Ed Case The Democratic primary was very competitive There were ten candidates seven of whom served in the Hawaii Legislature Hirono s advantage was that she was the only candidate who had held statewide office and as a result had the most name recognition She also raised the most money mostly because of the endorsement of EMILY s List 27 and lent her own campaign 100 000 She won with a plurality of 22 of the vote State Senator Colleen Hanabusa finished second with 21 845 votes short of Hirono 28 29 In the general election Hirono defeated Republican State Senator Bob Hogue 61 39 30 2008 Edit Main article 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii District 2 Hirono won reelection to a second term with 76 of the vote 31 2010 Edit Main article 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii District 2 Hirono won reelection to a third term with 72 of the vote 32 Tenure Edit In 2008 Hirono was named the national preschool advocacy organization Pre K Now s Pre K Champion for her efforts on behalf of pre kindergarten legislation 33 Hirono co sponsored and signed the Prevention First Act of 2007 The act aimed to increase public access to contraception and government funding to support the use of contraception 34 It places an emphasis on informing and protecting women from unintended pregnancy 34 On May 4 2011 Hirono voted against the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act which would have prohibited federal health care programs from covering abortion costs with exceptions for life threatening cases 34 In July 2011 Hirono voted for the Access to Birth Control Act which mandates that pharmacies provide birth control to customers without undue delay 34 The ABP Act also ensures that customers seeking birth control can obtain it without being submitted to unwanted harassment or breaches in patient confidentiality 34 EMILY s List a Democratic pro choice action committee pledged support to Hirono for her history of supporting contraceptive and abortion policies during her term 34 Its endorsement helped Hirono in her 2012 senatorial race contributing 129 714 to her campaign 35 36 Committee assignments Edit Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee on Seapower Chair Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Refugees and Border Security Subcommittee on Oversight Agency Action Federal Rights and Federal Courts Subcommittee on Privacy Technology and the Law Committee on Veterans Affairs Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesCaucus memberships Edit Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus 37 Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus International Conservation CaucusU S Senate 2013 present EditElections Edit 2012 Edit Main article 2012 United States Senate election in Hawaii On May 19 2011 Hirono announced her candidacy for the U S Senate seat left open by Daniel Akaka who was retiring at the end of his term in 2012 38 She won the Democratic primary election on August 11 2012 39 Hirono was endorsed as one of Democracy for America s Dean Dozen The Republican nominee was former Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle Hirono won the general election on November 6 2012 with 63 of the vote 40 She is the first female senator from Hawaii as well as the first Asian born immigrant to be elected to the U S Senate 41 She was a part of the first completely non Christian Congressional delegation from the state which continued until the election of Mark Takai an Episcopalian in 2014 as Representative of Hawaii s 1st congressional district 42 In the 2012 campaign Hirono raised 5 2 million with approximately 52 of that from large corporations Lingle raised 5 5 million with 74 from large corporations Hirono spent 5 million and Lingle 4 8 million 43 2018 Edit Main article 2018 United States Senate election in Hawaii On November 6 2018 Hirono was reelected with 71 2 of the vote defeating Republican Ron Curtis 44 Tenure Edit On December 12 2012 the Senate Democratic Steering Committee announced that Hirono would serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee giving her influence on matters ranging from approving nominations of federal judges to setting criminal justice policy During the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination hearings in September 2018 Hirono became an outspoken defender of Christine Blasey Ford after Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault telling men to shut up and step up Do the right thing for a change 45 46 47 In the wake of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol Hirono called for the resignation of fellow senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley for their opposition to certifying the 2020 presidential election Electoral College count 48 She also called for the Twenty fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution to be invoked to remove Donald Trump from office 49 In April 2021 Hirono sponsored and the Senate passed a bill attempting to decrease hate crimes against Asian Americans due to xenophobia associated with COVID 19 The vote was 94 1 with Senator Hawley R MO the only one who voted against the bill 50 In July 2022 Hirono joined in introducing the Youth Voting Rights Act comprehensive legislation to enforce the Twenty Sixth Amendment and expand youth access to voting This legislation led by Senator Elizabeth Warren was also introduced in the House by Representative Nikema Williams 51 Committee assignments 117th Congress Edit Hirono speaking at the No Muslim Ban Ever rally outside the Supreme Court April 2018 Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee on Seapower Chair Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 52 Subcommittee on National Parks Subcommittee on Public Lands Forests and Mining Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee on Oversight Agency Action Federal Rights and Federal Courts Subcommittee on Privacy Technology and the Law Committee on Veterans Affairs Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process ReformCaucus memberships Edit Congressional NextGen 9 1 1 Caucus 53 Expand Social Security CaucusPolitical positions Edit Hirono at a Stop the Bans rally in 2019 According to On the Issues Hirono s voting history places her in the left liberal camp 54 The American Conservative Union gave her a 2 lifetime conservative rating in 2020 55 Abortion Edit Hirono has a 100 rating from Naral Pro Choice America 54 She is also endorsed by EMILY s list for pro choice women 56 At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Hirono told the panel If you don t support abortion don t get one but leave everyone else to the painful decisions they have to make along with their physicians 57 Hirono called the June 2022 overturning of Roe v Wade a horrific day in America 58 She also said This will go down as one of the worst decisions in the history of the Court 59 Gun control Edit In 2016 she participated in the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster Hirono expressed disappointment when the Democrat proposed Feinstein Amendment banning the sale of firearms to individuals on the terrorist watchlist and the Republican backed background check expansion and alert system regarding guns being sold to terrorist watchlist suspects both failed to pass the Senate 60 Health care Edit On July 28 2017 two months after undergoing surgery for stage four kidney cancer Hirono spoke on the Senate floor and voted against the so called skinny repeal of the Affordable Care Act Obamacare 61 MSNBC reporter Kyle Griffin filmed Hirono s speech and posted it on Twitter 62 In January 2019 during the 2018 19 United States federal government shutdown Hirono was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to Commissioner of Food and Drugs Scott Gottlieb recognizing the efforts of the FDA to address the effect of the government shutdown on the public health and employees while expressing alarm that the continued shutdown will result in increasingly harmful effects on the agency s employees and the safety and security of the nation s food and medical products 63 Gottlieb said additional staff might be called in as needed 64 Hirono is a supporter of Medicare for All 65 Housing Edit In April 2019 Hirono was one of 41 senators to sign a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development s Section 4 Capacity Building program as authorizing HUD to partner with national nonprofit community development organizations to provide education training and financial support to local community development corporations CDCs across the country and expressing disappointment that Trump s budget has slated this program for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development The senators wrote of their hope that the subcommittee would support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020 66 Telecommunications Edit In April 2019 Hirono was one of seven senators to sponsor the Digital Equity Act of 2019 legislation establishing a 120 million grant program that would fund the creation and implementation of comprehensive digital equity plans in every state and a 120 million grant program to support projects developed by individuals and groups The bill also gave the National Telecommunications and Information Administration NTIA the role of evaluating and providing guidance for digital equity projects 67 Personal life EditIn May 2017 Hirono announced that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer which had spread to her seventh rib 68 The cancer was discovered in a chest X ray in April before minor eye surgery 69 Hirono s right kidney was removed on May 17 2017 with a Cyberknife procedure to treat the rib lesion 70 68 She returned to the Senate on May 22 2017 and was reelected to a second term in 2018 71 As of 2018 according to OpenSecrets org Hirono s net worth was more than 4 3 million 72 In 2021 Viking Press published Hirono s autobiography Heart of Fire An Immigrant Daughter s Story 73 Marie Claire listed the book among its 25 Great Memoirs to Pre Order Now 74 Also in 2021 it was announced that Hirono would receive Japan s Order of the Rising Sun Gold and Silver Star for her significant contributions in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting legislative exchanges between Japan and the United States 75 Electoral history EditHawaii gubernatorial election 2002 76 Party Candidate Votes Republican Linda Lingle 197 009 51 56 2 74 Democratic Mazie Hirono 179 647 47 01 3 09 Natural Law Bu Laʻia Hill 2 561 0 67 N ALibertarian Tracy Ryan 1 364 0 36 0 72 Independent Jim Brewer 1 147 0 30 N AIndependent Daniel Cunningham 382 0 10 N ATotal votes 382 110 100 00 N ARepublican gain from DemocraticHawaii s 2nd congressional district election 2006 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Mazie Hirono 106 906 61 04 Republican Bob Hogue 68 244 38 96 Total votes 175 150 100 00 Democratic holdHawaii s 2nd congressional district election 2008 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Mazie Hirono inc 165 748 76 06 Republican Roger B Evans 44 425 20 39 Independent Shaun Stenshol 4 042 1 85 Libertarian Jeff Mallan 3 699 1 70 Total votes 217 914 100 00 Democratic holdHawaii s 2nd congressional district election 2010 77 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Mazie Hirono incumbent 132 290 72 19 Republican John W Willoughby 46 404 25 32 Libertarian Pat Brock 3 254 1 78 Independent Andrew Von Sonn 1 310 0 71 Total votes 183 258 100 00 Democratic holdDemocratic primary results 78 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Mazie Hirono 134 745 57 Democratic Ed Case 95 553 40 Blank Votes 3 331 1 Democratic Arturo Reyes 1 720 1 Democratic Michael Gillespie 1 104 1 Democratic Antonio Gimbernat 517 0 2 Over Votes 110 0 Total votes 237 080 100 United States Senate election in Hawaii 2012 79 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Mazie Hirono 269 489 62 60 1 25 Republican Linda Lingle 160 994 37 40 0 62 Total votes 430 483 100 0 N ADemocratic holdDemocratic primary results Hawaii 2018 80 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Mazie Hirono incumbent 201 679 100 Total votes 201 679 100 United States Senate election in Hawaii 2018 81 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Mazie Hirono incumbent 276 316 71 15 8 55 Republican Ron Curtis 112 035 28 85 8 55 Total votes 388 351 100 N ADemocratic holdSee also Edit Hawaii portal Biography portal Japan portal Politics portalList of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress List of female lieutenant governors in the United States List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States List of United States senators born outside the United States Women in the United States House of Representatives Women in the United States SenateReferences Edit Buddhists Get the Vote Manitoba Buddhist Temple November 5 2010 Archived from the original on July 12 2013 Retrieved August 12 2012 Camire Dennis January 5 2007 What happened to religious tolerance Honolulu Advertiser Gannett Company Retrieved August 9 2011 Jonathan Tilove New Congress brings with it religious firsts Newhouse News Service Archived from the original on December 19 2006 a b c d e f Rod Ohira May 8 1999 Lieutenant governor reflects on the bookends of her life Honolulu Star Bulletin Retrieved January 1 2013 a b c d Dan Boylan March 21 2007 The Immigrant Congresswoman Midweek Retrieved January 1 2013 LaFrance Adrieene January 12 2014 What It s Like To Be The Only Asian American Woman in the U S Senate Medium Retrieved January 13 2014 Dayton Kevin September 4 2002 Mazie Hirono From poverty to quiet power Honolulu Advertiser Retrieved September 23 2012 Tari Sato Ancestry com Retrieved January 1 2013 Hawaii Senate Mazie Hirono NationalJournal com Retrieved April 10 2015 Mazie Hirono Biography Biography com A amp E Television Networks August 19 2015 Mazie Keiko Hirono Washington Times Retrieved July 29 2017 HI State House 12 Race Our Campaigns November 4 1980 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI State House 20 Race Our Campaigns November 2 1982 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI State House 32 Race Our Campaigns November 6 1984 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI State House 22 D Primary Race Our Campaigns September 19 1992 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI State House 22 Race Our Campaigns November 3 1992 Retrieved June 3 2012 About Mazie Mazie K Hirono A Voice for Hawai i in the U S Senate www hirono senate gov Retrieved August 3 2020 HI Lt Governor D Primary Race Our Campaigns September 17 1994 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI Lt Governor Race Our Campaigns November 8 1994 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI Lt Governor D Primary Race Our Campaigns September 19 1998 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI Lt Governor Race Our Campaigns November 3 1998 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI Governor D Primary Race Our Campaigns September 21 2002 Retrieved June 3 2012 Borreca Richard September 23 2002 The race is on Honolulu Star Bulletin Retrieved June 24 2010 State of Hawaii Office of Elections September 28 2002 2002 Primary Election Results Statewide Summary PDF Retrieved June 24 2010 HI Governor Race Our Campaigns November 5 2002 Retrieved June 3 2012 Borreca Richard November 6 2002 Big responsibility Honolulu Star Bulletin Retrieved June 24 2010 Giddins Carrie Emily s list announces endorsement of Mazie Hirono for Hawaii s 2nd congressional District Archived from the original on June 23 2006 Retrieved June 14 2006 HI District 2 D Primary Race Our Campaigns September 23 2006 Retrieved June 3 2012 Kapochunas Rachel Akaka Survives Challenge from Case in Hawaii Democratic Primary cqpolitics com Archived from the original on October 13 2007 Retrieved September 24 2006 HI District 02 Race Our Campaigns November 7 2006 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI District 02 Race Our Campaigns November 4 2008 Retrieved June 3 2012 HI District 02 Race Our Campaigns November 2 2010 Retrieved June 3 2012 Rep Mazie Hirono Politico Retrieved August 14 2014 a b c d e f Mazie Hirono on Abortion On the Issues Retrieved November 19 2012 Sen Mazie K Hirono Campaign Finance Money OpenSecrets Strauss Daniel June 28 2011 EMILY s List backs Rep Hirono in Hawaii Senate primary TheHill Retrieved May 19 2018 Members Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Retrieved May 17 2018 DePledge Derrick May 20 2011 Hirono to run for U S Senate Honolulu Star Advertiser Retrieved June 18 2011 Election Results Office of Elections State of Hawaii Retrieved December 5 2010 Hirono defeats Lingle in Senate race Honolulu Star Advertiser Associated Press November 6 2012 Archived from the original on November 13 2012 Retrieved November 7 2012 Koh Yoree November 6 2012 Hirono Becomes First U S Senator Born in Japan The Wall Street Journal Retrieved November 7 2012 Sandstrom Aleksandra March 21 2017 Majority of states have all Christian congressional delegations Pew Research Center Retrieved May 19 2018 Hawaii Senate 2012 Race OpenSecrets December 31 2012 Retrieved May 19 2018 General Election 2018 Final Summary Report PDF State of Hawaii November 13 2018 Retrieved November 18 2018 Jalonick Mary Claire September 21 2018 Call for men to step up puts Sen Hirono in the spotlight Associated Press Cummings William September 19 2018 Sen Mazie Hirono to men Just shut up and step up USA Today Retrieved October 6 2018 Sullivan Kate September 18 2018 Sen Hirono s message to men Just shut up and step up Do the right thing CNN Retrieved November 18 2018 Churchill Owen January 8 2021 US lawmakers say two senators must resign for actions leading to siege South China Morning Post Retrieved January 8 2021 Gutierrez Ben January 7 2021 Hawaii s congressional delegation backs effort to remove Trump from office Hawaii News Now Retrieved January 8 2021 Wu Nicholas April 22 2021 Senate passes anti Asian American hate crime bill Politico Hirono joins colleagues in introducing legislation to expand youth access to voting Maui Now Hirono joins colleagues in introducing legislation to expand youth access to voting Retrieved July 17 2022 Sen Hirono Secures Important Hawai i Priorities Big Island Now February 12 2019 Retrieved March 19 2019 Members Congressional NextGen 9 1 1 Caucus Retrieved June 14 2018 a b Mazie Hirono on the Issues On the Issues Retrieved November 18 2018 Lawmakers a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Mazie Hirono on Abortion www ontheissues org Retrieved January 23 2019 Abortion Until Birth The Need to Pass the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act Senate Judiciary Committee April 9 2019 Event occurs at 1h18m Retrieved June 1 2022 Hirono Mazie Today is a horrific day in America The Supreme Court was confronted with a fundamental question who should have control over a woman s body a woman or a bunch of politicians They decided it should be a bunch of politicians Twitter Retrieved June 24 2022 Hirono Mazie The far right majority on SCOTUS has stripped women of a fundamental constitutional right we have relied on for nearly 50 years which is what Trump McConnell amp MAGA Republicans wanted all along This will go down as one of the worst decisions in the history of the Court Twitter Retrieved June 24 2022 Pignataro Anthony June 20 2016 Hawaii Senators Mazie Hirono Brian Schatz react to gun control bill failures Maui Time Maui Time Retrieved October 4 2017 Shapiro Rebecca July 28 2017 Senator Mazie Hirono Health Care Plea Huffington Post Retrieved July 29 2017 Griffin Kyle July 28 2017 Personal moving speech from Mazie Hirono tonight about her cancer diagnosis This is worth your time Twitter Retrieved July 29 2017 Democratic Senators Alarmed by Shutdown s Potential Impact on Food Safety foodsafetymagazine com January 15 2019 FDA May Call Back More Furloughed Staff for Food Safety Checks Amid Shutdown Forbes January 20 2019 Retrieved February 6 2019 Hirono Announces Support for Medicare for All Mazie K Hirono A Voice for Hawai i in the U S Senate www hirono senate gov Retrieved July 10 2021 Wyden Merkley urge more affordable housing funds ktvz com April 16 2019 Archived from the original on April 18 2019 Retrieved April 17 2019 Birnbaum Emily April 17 2019 Dems introduce bill to tackle digital divide The Hill a b Hamedy Saba May 16 2017 Hawaii Sen Mazie Hirono diagnosed with kidney cancer Retrieved June 3 2017 Drewes Paul May 17 2017 Sudden surgery for Senator Mazie Hirono KITV Retrieved June 3 2017 US Senator Mazie Hirono Recovering After Kidney Surgery U S News amp World Report Associated Press May 17 2017 Retrieved June 3 2017 Hirono returns to Senate following kidney surgery with message of thanks KHON TV May 22 2017 Retrieved June 3 2017 Mazie K Hirono Net Worth Personal Finances OpenSecrets org Retrieved October 15 2021 Hirono Mazie K 2021 Heart of Fire An Immigrant Daughter s Story New York Viking Press ISBN 9781984881601 OCLC 1198218656 Epstein Rachel March 10 2021 25 Great New Memoirs to Add to Your TBR Pile Marie Claire Retrieved March 19 2021 2021 Autumn Conferment of Decoration Senator Mazie Keiko Hirono Embassy of Japan in the United States of America November 3 2021 http hawaii gov elections results 2002 general 02swgen4 pdf bare URL PDF Statistics of the General Election of November 2 2010 PDF Clerk of the House of Representatives June 3 2011 pp 14 15 Retrieved August 4 2019 PRIMARY ELECTION 2012 State of Hawaii Statewide PDF State Of Hawaii Office of Elections Retrieved September 29 2012 Hawaii General 2012 State of Hawaii Statewide November 6 2012 Final Summary Report PDF files hawaii gov 2018 Hawaii primary election results PDF Retrieved June 12 2019 2018 Hawaii general election results PDF Retrieved June 12 2019 Further reading EditTotenberg Nina June 7 2018 The Quiet Rage Of Mazie Hirono Morning Edition NPR Retrieved November 14 2018 Boylan Dan March 21 2007 The Immigrant Congresswoman MidWeek Retrieved November 14 2018 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mazie Hirono Wikisource has original works by or about Mazie Hirono Senator Mazie Hirono official U S Senate website Hirono for Senate campaign website Appearances on C SPAN Mazie Hirono at CurlieBiography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Financial information federal office at the Federal Election Commission Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress Profile at Vote Smart Mazie Hirono Archived March 4 2016 at the Wayback Machine Video produced by Makers Women Who Make AmericaHawaii House of RepresentativesPreceded byClifford UwaineDavid Hagino Member of the Hawaii House of Representativesfrom the 12th district1981 1983 Succeeded byBarbara MarumotoPreceded byMitsuo ShitoDaniel J Kihano Member of the Hawaii House of Representativesfrom the 20th district1983 1985 Succeeded byCam CavassoPreceded byClarice Hashimoto Member of the Hawaii House of Representativesfrom the 32nd district1985 1993 Succeeded byLen PepperPreceded byGene Ward Member of the Hawaii House of Representativesfrom the 22nd district1993 1994 Succeeded byTerry YoshinagaPolitical officesPreceded byBen Cayetano Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii1994 2002 Succeeded byDuke AionaParty political officesPreceded byBen Cayetano Democratic nominee for Governor of Hawaii2002 Succeeded byRandy IwasePreceded byDaniel Akaka Democratic nominee for U S Senator from Hawaii Class 1 2012 2018 Most recentU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byEd Case Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom Hawaii s 2nd congressional district2007 2013 Succeeded byTulsi GabbardU S SenatePreceded byDaniel Akaka U S Senator Class 1 from Hawaii2013 present Served alongside Brian Schatz IncumbentU S order of precedence ceremonial Preceded byMartin Heinrichas United States Senator from New Mexico Order of precedence of the United States as United States Senator from Hawaiisince January 3 2013 Succeeded byEd Markeyas United States Senator from MassachusettsPreceded byChris Murphy United States senators by seniority48th Succeeded byMartin Heinrich Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mazie Hirono amp oldid 1134947162, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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