Republican Wins House Seat in Obama’s Hometown

Posted on May 23, 2010

Flickr / Civil Beat

Charles Djou’s victory could be short-lived. He’ll serve through the rest of the year and another election will be held in November for the next term.

For the first time in 20 years, a Republican has been elected to Congress to represent the Honolulu district where President Barack Obama grew up. The GOP midterm win speaks more to the fact that two candidates split the vote on the Democratic side than any surge in Hawaiian Republican pride. —JCL

The New York Daily News:

A Honolulu city councilman has defeated two Democrats to give Republicans a midterm election victory in the U.S. congressional district where President Barack Obama grew up.

Charles Djou’s win Saturday is the latest triumph for the GOP as it looks to take back control of Congress. And it came as a blow to Democrats who could not rally around a candidate and find away to win a congressional race that should have been a cakewalk. The seat had been held by a Democrat for nearly 20 years and is located where Obama was born and spent most of his childhood.

“This is a momentous day. We have sent a message to the United States Congress. We have sent a message to the national Democrats. We have sent a message to the machine,” Djou said. “The congressional seat is not owned by one political party. This congressional seat is owned by the people.”

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