[ U.S. CONGRESS ]

Inouye, Abercrombie,
Case seek to retain seats

No Hawaii delegation member has ever
lost a bid for re-election to the U.S. Congress

No senator or representative from Hawaii has ever lost a bid for re-election.

And three of Hawaii's five senators over the years were elected after serving in the U.S. House.

Only retirement and death have created openings in Hawaii's seats in Washington.

But none of the state's congressmen appear to be quitting any time soon. Three of Hawaii's four congressional members are running for re-election. The term of the fourth member doesn't expire until 2006.

Democrat Daniel Inouye is seeking his eighth term to the Senate.

Republican Cam Cavasso is running a low-budget campaign to unseat Inouye. In his latest filing with the Federal Election Commission, Cavasso reported collecting $6,440 and spending $2,875. In contrast, Inouye reported he raised $2.8 million since his last election and spent $1.3 million. Libertarian candidate Lloyd Mallan and nonpartisan Jim Brewer had no campaign spending reports on record.

Two Republicans and one Libertarian hope to unseat the Democratic incumbents in the U.S. House, Neil Abercrombie and Ed Case. With history against them in this election, the challengers could be looking to lay the groundwork for a future election, after one or both of Hawaii's senators retire. Inouye and Daniel Akaka turned 80 last month. A move up to the Senate by Abercrombie, Case or both would open their House seats to newcomers.

Republican Mike Gabbard, who is running against Case, had more than two-thirds of the money he raised on hand to spend late in his campaign or on a future campaign, according to data the FEC released last month. Gabbard raised $342,763 and spent $102,404.

The other Republican congressional challenger, Dalton Tanonaka, raised $123,565 and had spent $65,199. Tanonaka has yet to pay off the loans made to his failed 2002 lieutenant governor's campaign.

History aside, Abercrombie and Case are not taking their elections for granted.

Abercrombie reported he spent $585,941 on his campaign and still had $704,050 on hand, while Case reported he spent $379,613 and had $287,120 left.