Mazie Hirono

Mazie Hirono was born in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, and immigrated to Hawaii with her family at a young age. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. A member of the Democratic Party, Hirono began her political career in the Hawaii House of Representatives, where she served from 1981 to 1994, followed by two terms as the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii from 1994 to 2002. She was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 2006, serving three terms in the House of Representatives for Hawaii's 2nd district. In 2012, Hirono was elected to the U.S. Senate, making history as the first Asian-American woman and the first Buddhist to serve in the chamber. Throughout her tenure, she has served on the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Energy and Natural Resources Committees. Her legislative work has frequently focused on education, healthcare accessibility, and civil rights, and she has been a prominent figure in high-profile judicial confirmation hearings.

Mazie Hirono is a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act and has advocated for moving toward a universal healthcare system. She identifies climate change as an existential threat, supporting federal initiatives to transition to clean energy and the framework of the Green New Deal. Regarding immigration, she supports comprehensive reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented individuals and permanent protections for DACA recipients. Her economic platform includes raising the federal minimum wage, increasing the affordability of child care, and strengthening social safety nets like Social Security and Medicare. Hirono is also a vocal advocate for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and the protection of voting rights. In foreign policy, she emphasizes stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the importance of maintaining strong diplomatic and military alliances.