Schatz Picked to Replace Inouye

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) selected Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz (D) to replace the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) in the U.S. Senate, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reports.

Schatz said “he will fly to Washington tonight and be sworn in Thursday so he can participate in Senate votes to avert a fiscal cliff of federal tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to take effect in January.”

At 40 years old, Schatz will be the youngest senator — at least until Sen.-elect Chris Murphy (D-CT), who is 39, takes office next month.


Abercrombie chose Schatz from a list of recommendations from the Democratic Party of Hawaii that included Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) and and Esther Kiaaina (D), the deputy director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.