Abortion Policy (Wikipedia)

          Wikipedia Entry:

         Hirono's voting history on abortion policies in the US House of Representatives is congruent with her reputation as a far-left Democrat(2).
         Hirono co-sponsored and signed the Preventions First Act of 2007.  This act was aimed towards increasing public access to contraception, as well as increasing government funding to support the use of contraception (1One the issues).  The act takes a pro-active stance on birth control, with an emphasis on informing and protecting women from unintended pregnancy (1on the issues).
         On May 4, 2011, Mazie Hirono voted against the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which would have prohibited federal health care program from covering abortion costs, with exceptions being given to life-threatening cases (1On the issues).  The NTFA Act was highly controversial and pertinent to the futur of American health care, as its outcome would create policies that conflicted with the coverage of the President's proposed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public).
         In July of 2011, Hirono continued to show her support for contraceptives by signing the Access to Birth Control Act, which mandates that pharmacies provide birth control to customers without undue delay(1 onthe issues).  The ABP Act also ensures that customers seeking birth control can obtain without being submitted to unwanted harassment or breaches in patient confidentiality(1 On the issues).
       Emily's list, a Democratic pro-choice action committee, has pledged support to Hirono for her history of supporting of contraceptive and abortion policies during her term in the US house of Representatives (On the issues). The endorsement of Emily's list helped Hirono in her 2012 Senatorial race, having contributed $129,714 to her campaign.

"Mazie Hirono on Abortion." On the Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

<http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Mazie_Hirono_Abortion.htm>.

"Mazie Hirono on the Issues." On the Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

<http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Mazie_Hirono.htm>.

"Mazie K. Hirono." Hirono: Campaign Finance/Money. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

<http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00028139>. 

"PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010." Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. N.p., n.d.

Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/pdf/PLAW- 

111publ148.pdf>.

Who Won What Where and Why?

          On November the 6th Mazie Hirono became the first Asian-born senator in America.  Mazie Hirono defeated the GOP candidate Linda Lingle 62.6% to 37.4%, by a margin of 107 thousand votes (2012 Presidential Election).  But what propelled Mazie to her substantial lead and victory?
          It is difficult to pinpoint why Mazie Hirono was so successful as a candidate.  Many aspects of her personality and her stance on prominent issues make her and appealing choice for the Senate.  It is my hypothesis that a combination of several smaller factors created the correct political climate that enabled Mazie Hirono to win her seat in the Senate.
         I believe that Hawaii being the home state of current President Barrack Obama was a powerful and positive influence that supported Mazie Hirono's campaign (Barack Obama Biography). The President's ties back to his home state motivated voters and aroused waves of Democratic sentiments;  the waves that Hirono rode to victory.  Like the President, Hirono is an advocate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and places a high priority on issues of education (Mazie Hirono on the Issues).  Their agreement on issues such as these allows Hawaiians to channel their enthusiasm for Barrack Obama into his Hawaiian Senatorial candidate counterpart.
        Another important link Mazie Hirono shares with President Obama is that both she and he are visible minorities.  This visible connection between Hirono and Obama can only strengthen their inherent association,  and by extension aid the propagation of her campaign to Democrats already supporting Obama.  These supporters recognized the similarities, and likely lent their support to Hirono on the day of the election.  Although, this association may have influenced Democrats or those leaning Democrat to cast their ballot for Hirono, it is doubtful the presidential correlation had a positive voting influence on more right-wing Hawaiians.
         I do not think the influence of Mazie Hirono's ethnic origin ends with just a coincidental presidential correlation. The interplay of Mazie Hirono's ethnic origins and the demographic of Hawaii also came into play when determining the outcome of this election.  Hawaii's population is comprised of 38% asian citizens, a sleeping giant akin to latino populations in other states (Enloe and Seager 108)(US Census Bureau).  These Asians-Americans are the majority ethnic group in Hawaii, which gives them much power in determining the which political agents they are going to elect to represent them.  No one was better suited for representing the interests Asian-American Hawaiians than Mazie Hirono, who bore the potential of being the first Asian-American Senator.
        Due to this ethnic bias, I believe Mazie Hirono was able to clinch the votes of those who were more focused on candidate characteristics than their political platforms.  This ethnic trend of voting is correlated ideas of candidate centered voting, and in the case of Hawaii's visible majority it is a short-term strategy that holds the power to decide the outcome of an election (Berry et. al 226).  These ethnic similarities coupled with Hirono's presidential correlation were key components in securing her victory against Lingle.






"2012 Presidential Election." POLITICO. N.p., 13 Nov. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.

<http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/>.

"Barack Obama Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 9 Nov. 2012. Web.

<http://www.biography.com/people/barack-obama-12782369>.

Berry, Jeffrey, Kenneth M. Janda, Jerry Goldman, and Kevin W. Hula. The Challenge of Democracy.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Print.

Enloe, Cynthia H., and Joni Seager. The Real State of America Atlas: Mapping the Myths and Truths

of the United States. New York, NY: Penguin, 2011. Print.

"Hawaii US Census Bureau." USA Census Bureau. N.p., 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012.

<http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html>.

"Mazie Hirono on the Issues." On the Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.

<http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Mazie_Hirono.htm>.

Voting History and Demographic of Hawaii

       The state of Hawaii is home to only 1.37 million Americans, and is allotted 4 electoral college votes to contribute to each presidential election (Hawaii US Census Bureau)( Hawaii 270 to Win).  In it's first year as a State, Hawaii was originally allotted 3 electoral college votes in 1959, which was been raised to 4 electoral votes in the year following the 1960 election, and it has remained unchanged since then. (Hawaii 270 to win).
        Hawaii has remained a Democratic stronghold since its inception, with the exception of having conceded two victories to Republican presidential candidates (Hawaii Presidential Voting History).  Ronald  Reagan and Richard Nixon were the two non-Democrats presidential candidates to steal Hawaii, but not since then has it shared its electoral votes with a Republican (Hawaii 270 to Win).  This long-standing Democratic winning streak has created strong Democratic tone in Hawaii, one that may prove difficult for candidate Lingle to overcome.  Though Lingle did win her election against Hirono in 2002, her victory was the result of Hirono's last minute entry into the race and her slim victory over  the opposing democratic nominee, Ed Case. Hawaii
         Unlike other States, Hawaii is home home to a majority of ethnic minorities (Enloe and Seager 108).  Caucasians occupy only 24.9% of the population of the Hawaiian islands, and are vastly outnumbered but other ethnic groups (Enoloe and Seager 108).  Asian-Americans represent the largest ethnic group in Hawaii, contributing to 38% of the population (Hawaii US Census Bureau)(Enloe andSeager 108). As Mazie Hirono was born in Japan, her racial and ethnic congruency with a plurality of the population has the potential to be a political tool.  It might be easier to for Hawaiians to empathize with a candidate of the same ethnic origins, an advantage that might give Hirono an edge in the her campaign.  This unorthodox balance in ethnic distribution is likely to play a role in influencing the decisions of Hawaiians come November the 6th.
     




Enloe, Cynthia H., and Joni Seager. The Real State of America Atlas: Mapping the Myths and Truths

of the United States. New York, NY: Penguin, 2011. Print.

"Hawaii US Census Bureau." USA Census Bureau. N.p., 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 8 Nov. 2012.

<http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html>.

"Hawaii Presidential Election Voting History." CNN. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012.

<http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/pre/HI/history.html>.

"Hawaii 270 to Win." 270 to Win. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012.

<http://www.270towin.com/states/Hawaii>.