Hawaii's at-large congressional district

Hawaii's at-large congressional district was a short-lived United States congressional district that represented the entire Territory of Hawaii and later the State of Hawaii in the United States House of Representatives. It existed from 1959, following the Hawaii Admission Act, until 1963, when the state was granted a second representative and divided into two districts. During its brief existence, the district was represented by Daniel Inouye, who would later become a U.S. Senator and a major figure in Hawaiian politics.

History

The district was established upon the admission of Hawaii to the United States as the 50th state on August 21, 1959, pursuant to the Hawaii Admission Act passed by the 85th United States Congress. This act provided for a single at-large representative until the next decennial census could be conducted. The 1960 United States Census confirmed the state's population growth, leading to the allocation of a second House seat. Consequently, the 88th United States Congress passed legislation redistricting Hawaii, and the at-large district was eliminated for the 1962 elections, replaced by Hawaii's 1st congressional district and Hawaii's 2nd congressional district. This period coincided with the rise of the Democratic Party in Hawaii, ending the long political dominance of the Republican Party associated with the former Territory of Hawaii.

Election results

Elections for the at-large seat were held in 1959 (a special election to fill the initial term) and in 1960 (for a full term). Both elections were won decisively by Democrat Daniel Inouye. The 1959 special election, held on July 28, saw Inouye defeat Republican Frederick H. Titcomb and several other candidates. The 1960 general election, held on November 8, featured a rematch between Inouye and Titcomb, with Inouye winning by an even larger margin. These victories were part of a broader political realignment in Hawaii and reflected Inouye's strong personal appeal and his status as a decorated World War II veteran of the 442nd Infantry Regiment.

List of representatives

Only one individual ever represented Hawaii through this at-large district. {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Representative ! Party ! Years ! Cong
ress ! Electoral history |- | Daniel Inouye | Democratic | August 21, 1959 – January 3, 1963 | 86th–87th | Elected in 1959 special election.
Re-elected in 1960.
Redistricted to the 1st district and re-elected in 1962. |}

Recent elections (2000–present)

The at-large congressional district has not existed since 1963 and therefore has held no elections in the 21st century. All modern U.S. House elections in Hawaii have been conducted within the state's two geographically defined districts. Contemporary elections have featured candidates such as Ed Case, Mazie Hirono, Tulsi Gabbard, and Kai Kahele in the 2nd district, and representatives like Neil Abercrombie and Colleen Hanabusa in the 1st district. The political landscape has remained consistently dominated by the Democratic Party.

See also

* United States congressional delegations from Hawaii * Hawaii's 1st congressional district * Hawaii's 2nd congressional district * Daniel Inouye * Hawaii Admission Act

Category:Hawaii's at-large congressional district Category:Obsolete United States congressional districts Category:Political history of Hawaii