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Open-Seat Hawaii Race Getting Crowded

Another Democrat is considering a bid for the soon-to-be-open House seat of Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D), who is leaving Congress to concentrate on his gubernatorial bid in Hawaii.More Democratic Party names on the special election ballot would increase the likelihood that the single GOP candidate could win the free-for-all special election in the heavily Democratic district.State Sen. Will Espero (D) announced that he is forming an exploratory committee for the seat currently held by Abercrombie, who is scheduled to leave office on Feb. 28.State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and former Rep. Ed Case, both Democrats, already are in the race.The district gave President Barack Obama 70 percent of its vote in 2008, but if a ballot has multiple Democratic names and only one Republican, it could be an opportunity for Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou (R) to end up on top in the winner-take-all election.Djou released a statement praising Espero. “I enjoyed working with Sen. Will Espero when he and I were both in the State House and I am happy the voters may finally see another candidate in this Congressional special election race who actually lives in the district,— Djou said. The special election is expected to be held after March 1.

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