HONOLULU (AP) — Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou has become the newest member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Djou took the oath of office Tuesday in Washington.

The Republican was welcomed to the House by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and introduced by Hawaii Rep. Mazie Hirono. She noted Djou and President Barack Obama both graduated from Punahou School.

Djou beat out Democrats Colleen Hanabusa and Ed Case in a special election to serve out the term of former Rep. Neil Abercrombie. He stepped down to run for governor.

Djou said Tuesday that 1st Congressional District voters voiced their concern that Washington is taking America in the wrong direction. He vowed “;to fight for Hawaii families in the halls of Congress.”;