HAWAII: Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz Tapped To Succeed The Late Sen. Daniel Inouye

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has named his second-in-command, Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, to replace Sen. Daniel Inouye, who died last week after almost 50 years in office.

“I asked how best could we ensure that Hawaii remain strong in the long run,” Abercrombie said, adding that rebuilding the state’s seniority in Congress was a priority. “I made this decision with the full confidence that Brian’s appointment is in the best interest of the party, the state of Hawaii and the nation.” For 22 years Hawaii had been represented in the Senate by the same tandem — Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka. Because of his appointment, Schatz will become the state’s new senior senator in January, after Sen.-elect Mazie Hirono succeeds the retiring Akaka.

Schatz is 40 years old.