The Hawaii Democratic Party selected three candidates to replace Sen. Daniel Inouye Wednesday, including Inouye’s personal choice, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reports. The other two candidates are Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz and Esther Kiaaina, the deputy director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie will select a replacement from among those three as early as Wednesday so that the new senator can vote on any fiscal cliff legislation.
Representative-elect Tulsi Gabbard, who had the support of Newark Mayor Cory Booker, was not among the three selected by the party.