Mazie Hirono

Mazie Hirono, born on November third, nineteen forty-seven, is a distinguished American lawyer and politician who has been serving as the junior United States senator from Hawaii since January 3, two thousand thirteen. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented Hawaii's second congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from two thousand seven to two thousand thirteen. Following the retirement of Senator Daniel Akaka, Hirono became the dean of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

Her political journey began in the Hawaii House of Representatives, where she served from nineteen eighty-one to nineteen ninety-four. Hirono also held the position of Hawaii's tenth lieutenant governor from nineteen ninety-four to two thousand two. In two thousand two, she was the Democratic nominee for governor of Hawaii but was defeated by Republican Linda Lingle.

Hirono made history as the first elected female senator from Hawaii, the first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate, and the first U.S. senator born in Japan. Additionally, she is recognized as the nation's first Buddhist senator, although she identifies as a non-practicing Buddhist. Alongside Hank Johnson, she is noted as one of the first Buddhists to serve in the United States Congress.

In two thousand twelve, Hirono was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Akaka, winning the election decisively against Lingle with sixty-three percent of the vote. She was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden and was the only senator of Asian ancestry until two thousand seventeen, when Tammy Duckworth and Kamala Harris joined the Senate. Hirono was reelected in two thousand eighteen and secured a third term in two thousand twenty-four against Republican nominee Bob McDermott.