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Mazie K. HironoDEMDemocrat United States Senator
76
Years of Age
39
Years of Experience
HIResidence (state)

Mazie Keiko Hirono (Japanese name: 広野 慶子, Hirono Keiko; born November 3, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Hawaii since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Hirono previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2007 to 2013. Hirono also served as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1981 to 1995 and as Hawaii's tenth lieutenant governor from 1994 to 2002, under Ben Cayetano. She was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for governor of Hawaii in 2002, defeated by Republican Linda Lingle in the general election. Hirono is the first elected female senator from Hawaii, the first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate, the first U.S. senator born in Japan, and the nation's first Buddhist senator. She considers herself a non-practicing Buddhist and is often cited with Hank Johnson as the first Buddhist to serve in the United States Congress. She is also the third woman to be elected to Congress from Hawaii (after Patsy Mink and Pat Saiki). In 2012, Hirono was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Daniel Akaka. Hirono won the election, defeating Lingle in a landslide, 63% to 37%. She was sworn in on January 3, 2013, by Vice President Joe Biden.

Voterly's Issue Scores  (1 - 30 of 30)

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Special Interest Group Ratings

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Interest Groups That OPPOSE
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Average Score

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Campaign Funding

20
18
$4,867,005
Total Raised
$3,947,458
Total Spent
$996,873
Cash on Hand
Top Industries  (1 - 4 of 10) View All Industries
99%
Lawyers/Law Firms$686,044
39%
Leadership PACs$271,000
35%
Retired$241,878
23%
Real Estate$160,655
23%
Lobbyists$158,523
16%
Sea Transport$114,257
15%
Securities & Investment$107,189
14%
Women's Issues$95,916
12%
Health Professionals$85,193
12%
Public Sector Unions$85,000
Direct campaign contributions grouped by the industry industry of each donor/PAC.

Largest Contributors

Funding generally from an organization's PAC or its members/employees. Organizations did not donate directly.
Financial Data Source: Center for Responsive Politics
Education5 - 5 of 3
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Bachelor of Arts
1970
Kaimuki High School
Georgetown University Law Center
Juris Doctor
1978
Past Positions1 - 6 of 6
Senator
United States Senate, Hawaii
2013 - Current
Representative
United States House of Representatives, Hawaii
2007 - 2013
Lieutenant Governor
State of Hawaii
1994 - 2002
Representative
Hawaii House of Representatives
1980 - 1994
Deputy Attorney General
State of Hawaii
1978
Former Attorney
Shim, Tam, Kirimitsu, Kitamura and Chang
Other Experience1 - 46 of 46
Member
Democratic Rural Working Group
Current
Founder
Patsy T. Mink Political Action Committee
2004
Co-Founder
University Connections
Former Member
Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition
Former Member
United States-China Working Group
Co-Chair
Congressional Study Group on Japan
Current
Executive Board Member
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Equality Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues
Current
Member
Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Progressive Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional National Parks Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Bike Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Fire Services Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Defense Communities Caucuse
Current
Member
United Service Organizations (USO) Congressional Caucus
Current
Member
Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus
Current
Member
Senate Bipartisan Small Brewers Caucus
Current
Member
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Social Work Caucus
Current
Member
Senate Travel Caucus Members
Current
Member
Senate Oceans Caucus
Current
Member
Congressional Next Generation 9-1-1 Caucus
Current
Former Chair
Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee, Hawaii State House of Representatives
Former Member
Subcommittee on Energy, United States Senate
Former Member
Select Committee on Intelligence, United States Senate
Former Member
Congressional TRIO Caucus
Former Member
Congressional Vision Caucus
Former Member
Port Security Caucus
Former Member
House Oceans Caucus
Former Member
House Impact Aid Coalition
Former Member
Congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Caucus
Former Member
Subcommittee on Airland, United States Senate
Former Member
Privacy, Technology and the Law Subcommittee, United States Senate
Former Member
International Conservation Caucus
Former Member
House Democratic Caucus
Former Member
Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, United States Senate
Former Member
House Democracy Assistance Commission
Former Member
House Rural Health Care Coalition
Former Member
National Marine Sanctuary Caucus
Former Member
Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus
Former Member
National Service Caucus
Former Member
Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
Former Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Water and Power, United States Senate