Hawaii Attorney General Announces Run for Congress

HONOLULU — Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin is running for the state’s 1st Congressional District seat, currently held by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

Doug Chin

The announcement by Chin, a Democrat and an outspoken opponent of President Trump’s Muslim travel ban, was prompted by Hanabusa’s decision to challenge incumbent and fellow Democrat David Ige in the gubernatorial primary.

The district encompasses the urban areas of the City and County of Honolulu. Hanabusa, who had previously served in Congress, was elected to the seat in 2016 following the death of Rep. Mark Takai.

Chin told KHON that he would not have to give up his current position, which he has held since March 2015, in order to run.

“When this opportunity came up, and we were seeing all the different things were happening with what was going on in Washington, D.C., I just realized it was time,” Chin told Hawaii News Now. “It’s time to step into the ring and really keep making a difference because I think that’s one of the things that I’ve really learned in the past year — I can’t keep silent, I’ve got to stand up for what I believe in and protect the values that I think are so important, not just to me, but to people all throughout our community …

“There’s so many different ways that we can be able to challenge with the federal government, with the Trump Administration. On one hand, it’s been a tremendous experience, just being able to fight the administration in court — to be able to win several times whether it’s on the travel ban lawsuit or undocumented immigrants or transgenders in the military — that’s been great. But I think there’s another component that’s also important, which is just being able to take the fight to the administration in Congress.”

Chin, a trial attorney, was a managing partner at the Honolulu-based law firm of Carlsmith Ball. In addition to his work in private practice, his public-sector legal experience includes serving as city managing director under Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and a 12-year stint in the Honolulu prosecuting attorney’s office.

Chin holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Stanford University and a law degree from the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law.

Also running for the congressional seat are Honolulu City Councilmember Ernie Martin, State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, and State Rep. Kaniela Ing — all Democrats.