Djou won close to 40 percent of the vote in the mail-in special election, beating out Democrats Colleen Hanabusa, with 31 percent, and Ed Case, 28 percent. Yes -- note that the majority of voters in the district supported Democratic candidates. It was race that created a deep divide within the party:
Democrats will be looking to regroup and recapture the seat behind a single candidate in November.The two Democrats have their sights set on the party primary in September, which will lead to a one-on-one race against Djou in November. More here: Djou heading to D.C. And here: Djou tells FOX News he's eager to prove trust 'is deserved'.
The party will have to overcome a divide that many, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, blamed for handing the election to the GOP.
Most of Hawaii's Democratic establishment, led by U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, backed Hanabusa, the state Senate president, while also exhibiting an open dislike of Case for his failed 2006 Senate run against U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka. National Democrats appeared to favor Case as the more electable candidate but shied away from picking either.