Brian Schatz was sworn in today as Hawaii's senior senator, replacing the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), who died of respiratory complications on Monday, December 17.
Sen. Inouye, who had served Hawaii since 1959 as a representative and then senator, requested that Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) become his replacement. However, on Wednesday, December 26, Governor Neil Abercrombie (D) appointed Schatz, the state's lieutenant governor, to fill the seat.
Hawaii will have a second new face in the Senate when Senator-elect Mazie Hirono is sworn in this January. She replaces retiring Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI).