Hawaii's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The district encompasses all rural and most suburban areas of Oahu/Honolulu County, as well as the entire state outside of Oahu. Besides Honolulu, the district includes the counties of Kauai, Maui, Kalawao and Hawaii ("the Big Island"). The district spans 331 miles. The most populous community entirely within the district is Hilo. Major segments of the economy include tourism, ranching and agriculture.
History
When Hawaii and Alaska were admitted to the Union in 1959, both new states were granted one at-large Representative to Congress pending the next United States Census. In the reapportionment following the 1960 U.S. Census, Hawaii was entitled to a second U.S. Representative. Instead of creating two congressional districts, the state continued to elect its U.S. Representatives at-large. Two representatives were first elected in 1962 and Hawaii was first represented by two U.S. Representatives on January 2, 1963 upon the convening of the 88th Congress.
The 2nd Congressional District was created in 1971 when Hawaii began electing its representatives from districts instead of electing an at-large U.S. Representative statewide.
The district is represented by DemocratTulsi Gabbard, who said in October 2019 she would not seek re-election.
In January 2019, Hawaii state senatorKai Kahele announced he would run for the seat in 2020.[4] Other Democrats that announced are David Cornejo, Brian Evans (a self-described "Berniecrat" who ran for the seat as a Republican in 2018), Noelle Famera, and Ryan Meza. Republicans Joseph Akana and Jonathan Hoomanawanui also announced.
Political profile
The 2nd Congressional District has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+19. The district has supported the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1988, and has never elected a Republican House representative.
Under the U.S. Constitution, a candidate for this district only has to be a resident of Hawaii, but does not have to live in the district itself. The first non-resident to be elected to this U.S. House seat was Ed Case, a Honoluluattorney, though Case was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii. The home state office of the Second Congressional District is at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building near Honolulu Harbor.
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