PoliticsNeil AbercrombiePoliticstulsi gabbard

Cory Booker Backs Tulsi Gabbard For Hawaii Senate Seat

Cory Booker Enters Hawaii Senate Mix
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Less than a week after indicating his own interest in seeking a U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey in 2014, Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) has taken to Twitter to help an ally obtain a Hawaii Senate seat.

Booker used Twitter over the weekend to promote the candidacy of Rep.-elect Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) to fill the seat of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D), who died last week. Gabbard, an Iraq veteran who was elected to her first term in Congress last month, is one of 12 Democrats seeking the two-year appointment to Inouye's seat. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) is expected to name a new senator later Wednesday after the state Democratic Party names three finalists.

Booker kicked off his support of Gabbard Friday after receiving a Tweet suggesting he move to Hawaii to become the state's new senator. The two-term mayor then said he hoped Gabbard received the appointment from Abercrombie. Booker followed up that the Senate needed "some 'new'" as part of his support for the 31-year-old Gabbard.

Since Monday, Booker has continued his Twitter campaign for Gabbard calling her an "inspiring person" and retweeting favorable comments, along with a blog post written by Allen Hoe in The Huffington Post promoting Gabbard's Senate candidacy.

Booker is not the only national leader to support Abercrombie appointing Gabbard. Kal Penn, the actor and former adviser to President Barack Obama, tweeted his support for Gabbard, calling her "my homie." On Monday, Gabbard's campaign released a letter to Abercrombie signed by eight national young political leaders endorsing Gabbard.

Booker announced last Thursday that he was exploring a Senate race in New Jersey in 2014, potentially against Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), who said he will not announce whether he is seeking reelection until next year. Booker's characterization of the Senate needing "new" in terms of the Gabbard appointment could indicate a future campaign theme against the 88-year-old Lautenberg, first elected in 1982. In a tweet last week, Booker indicated he planned to talk to Lautenberg about the incumbent's plans.

Hawaii News Now reports that Democrats are expected to send the names of Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D) and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz (D) to Abercrombie for the Senate appointment, along with a third name. Inouye indicated in a letter to Abercrombie hours before he died that he wanted Hanabusa to succeed him. If appointed, either Schatz, 40, or Gabbard would become the nation's youngest senator, a title currently held by 41-year-old Utah Sen. Mike Lee (R).

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Before You Go

Longest Serving Senators In U.S. History
Robert Byrd (D-W.V.)(01 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan. 3, 1959 to June 28, 2010Years of service: 51 years, 5 months, 26 daysSource:United States SenateSen. Robert Byrd, D-W.V., appears at a Senate hearing on May 9, 2007 in Washington. He died on June 28, 2010 at the age of 92. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)(02 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan. 3, 1963 to Dec. 17, 2012Source:United States SenateSenate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI) speaks at a May 18, 2011 hearing in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.)(03 of25)
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Dates of service: Dec. 14, 1954 to April 4, 1956and Nov 7, 1956 to Jan 3, 2003Years of service: 47 years, 5 months, 8 daysSource:United States SenateSenator Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., pictured on May 22, 1997. He died on June 26, 2003 at the age of 100. (STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) (04 of25)
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Dates of service: Nov. 7, 1962 to Aug. 25, 2009Years of service: 46 years, 9 months, 19 daysSource:United States SenateSen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) speaks during a Jan. 21, 2007 taping of NBC's "Meet the Press." He died on Aug. 25, 2009 at the age of 77. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Carl Hayden (D-Ariz.) (05 of25)
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Dates of service: March 4, 1927 to Jan. 3, 1969Years of service: 41 years, 9 months, 30 daysSource:United States SenatePresident Lyndon Johnson presents a pen to Sen. Carl Hayden, D-Ariz., on September 30, 1968 in Washington. Hayden died on Jan. 25, 1972 at the age of 94. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
John Stennis (D-Miss.)(06 of25)
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Dates of service: Nov. 5, 1947 to Jan. 2, 1989Years of service: 41 years, 1 month, 29 daysSource:United States SenateJohn Stennis, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, speaks on the July 6, 1969 edition of ABC's "Issues and Answers." Stennis died on April 23, 1995 at the age of 93.(AP Photo) (credit:AP)
Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)(07 of25)
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Dates of service: Dec. 24, 1968 to Jan. 2, 2009Years of service: 40 years, 10 daysSource:United States SenateIn this Tuesday, April 7, 2009 file photo, former Sen. Ted Stevens arrives at federal court in Washington. Stevens died in a plane crash on Monday, Aug. 9, 2010 at the age of 86. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, file) (credit:AP)
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)(08 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan. 3, 1975 to presentSource:United States SenateSen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., stands in front of the U.S. Capitol building on Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) (credit:AP)
Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.)(09 of25)
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Dates of service: Nov. 9, 1966 to Jan. 2, 2005Years of service: 38 years, 1 month, 25 daysSource:United States SenateSen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., appears at a Town Hall on Thursday, Oct. 7, 1983. He ran for the 1984 Democratic presidential nomination, but lost out to Vice President Walter Mondale. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm) (credit:AP)
Richard Russell (D-Ga.)(10 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan. 12, 1933 to Jan. 21, 1971Years of service: 38 years, 19 daysSource:United States SenateSen. Richard Russell (D-Ga.), shown from his Senate office desk in Washington on July 14, 1942. Russell died on Jan. 21, 1971 at age 73. (AP Photo/Eugene Abbott) (credit:AP)
Russell Long (D-La.)(11 of25)
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Dates of service: Dec. 31, 1948 to Jan. 2, 1987Years of service: 38 years, 3 daysSource:United States SenateRussell Long, shown at his desk in Baton Rouge, La., on Feb. 21, 1948. Long died on May 9, 2003 at age 84. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)(12 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan 3. 1977 to presentSource:United States SenateU.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) heads to a weekly policy meeting at the Capitol on March 20, 2012 in Washington. (Photo by T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
Francis Warren (R-Wyo.)(13 of25)
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Dates of service: Nov. 18, 1890 to March 3, 1893 and March 4, 1895 to Nov. 24, 1929Years of service: 37 years, 4 daysSource:United States Senate(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
James Eastland (D-Miss.) (14 of25)
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Dates of service: June 30, 1941 to Sept. 28, 1941 and Jan. 3, 1943 to Dec. 27, 1978Years of service: 36 years, 2 months, 24 daysSource:United States SenateSen. James O. Eastland of Mississippi, is shown in Washington on March 25, 1971. Eastland died on Feb. 19, 1986 at age 81. (AP Photo / Charles Tasnadi) (credit:AP)
Warren Magnuson (D-Wash.)(15 of25)
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Dates of service: Dec. 14, 1944 to Jan. 2, 1981Years of service: 36 years, 20 daysSource:United States SenateThen-Rep. Warren Magnuson (D-Wash.) smiles in his Washington office on Oct. 19, 1943. Magnuson died on May 20, 1989 at the age of 84. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
Joe Biden (D-Del.)(16 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan. 3, 1973 to Jan. 15, 2009Years of service: 36 years, 13 daysSource:United States SenateDemocratic vice presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-Del.) speaks at a rally in support of then-Democratic presidential nomineee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) on October 12, 2008 in Scranton, Pa. (Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
Pete Domenici (R-N.M.)(17 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan. 3, 1973 to Jan. 2, 2009Years of service: 36 yearsSource:United States SenateU.S. Republican Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) listens during the announcement of the America Competes Act on March 5, 2007 in Washington. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) (18 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan 3. 1977 to Jan. 3, 2013Years of service: 36 yearsSource:United States SenateSen. Richard Lugar attends a courtesy call to the Malacanang Palace in Manila on October 29, 2012. (NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.)(19 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan. 3, 1961 to Jan. 2, 1997Years of service: 36 yearsSource:United States SenateU.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, D-R.I., announces on Sept. 5, 1995 that he would not seek a seventh term in office. Pell died on Jan. 1, 2009 at age 90. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) (credit:AP)
Kenneth McKellar (D-Tenn.)(20 of25)
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Dates of service: March 4, 1917 to Jan. 2, 1953Years of service: 35 years, 10 monthsSource:United States Senate Sen. Kenneth McKellar (D-Tenn) left, and James M. Landis, OCD director meet on Feb. 27, 1942. McKellar died on Oct. 25, 1957 at age 88. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
Milton Young (R-N.D.)(21 of25)
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Dates of service: March 12, 1945 to Jan. 2, 1981Years of service: 35 years, 9 months, 22 daysSource:United States Senate Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, left, chats to Senator John L. McClellan (D-Ark.), center, and Senator Milton Young (R-N.D.), at the White House in Washington, March 24, 1975. Young died on May 31, 1983 at the age of 85. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
Ellison Smith (D-S.C.) (22 of25)
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Dates of service: March 4, 1909 to Nov. 17, 1944Years of service: 35 years, 8 months, 13 daysSource:United States SenateSen. Ellison Smith (left) meets with Secretary of Agriculture, Henry Wallace (right) on Jan. 18, 1934 in Washington. Smith died on Nov. 17, 1944 at age 80. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
Allen Ellender (D-La.)(23 of25)
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Dates of service: Jan. 3, 1937 to July 27, 1972Years of service: 35 years, 6 months, 24 daysSource:United States SenateSen. Allen Ellender, D-La., bids goodbye to Mrs. Ladybird Johnson after a gumbo luncheon at the Capitol on August 21, 1964. Ellender died on July 27, 1972 at age 81. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
William Boyd Allison (R-Iowa)(24 of25)
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Dates of service: March 4, 1873 to Aug. 4, 1908Years of service: 35 years, 5 monthsSource:United States Senate (credit:Getty File)
Thad Cochran (R-Miss.)(25 of25)
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Dates of service: Dec. 27, 1978 to presentSource:United States SenateRepublican US Senator from Mississippi Thad Cochran attends a joint press conference with US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and Iraqi Planning Minister Barhem Saleh (not seen), in Baghdad's Heavily fortified Green Zone, 19 April 2006. (SABAH ARAR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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