To: Hawaii's Progressive Community

Let's make sure a strong Democrat represents Barack Obama's birthplace in Congress. Election Day ...

Congressional District HI-01 is dominated by Democrats. But there's only one candidate in the Aug. 9 primary who's pledged to join the Congressional Progressive Caucus: Stanley Chang.

Why is this important?

Aloha!

Hawaii’s First Congressional District—urban Honolulu— is one of the most Democratic districts in the country. It gave Barack Obama 70% of the vote in both 2008 and 2012. The district was long represented by a member of the liberal Congressional Progressive Caucus, Neil Abercrombie, who is now Governor. For the last two terms, the district has been represented by a member of the conservative New Democrat Coalition, Colleen Hanabusa. She’s leaving the seat, which provides a good opportunity to again install a progressive.

In a crowded race, there is only one candidate who has pledged to join the Congressional Progressive Caucus—Honolulu City Councilmember Stanley Chang. Chang is a former student of Elizabeth Warren at Harvard Law School and says he wants to go to Congress to work with her on a progressive, populist future for America. He will protect the right to choose, fight climate change, seek to label GMO food and protect civil liberties.

Stanley is a great candidate. But he hasn’t been in office long, and he’s currently losing to veteran politician Donna Kim, a Democrat who’s much more conservative than Hanabusa and out of touch with the district. Kim opposes LGBT equality and has a mixed record on ethics, labor and the environment. This district deserves much better. This isn't Louisiana or Utah; we don't have to settle for a conservative Democrat in this seat.

It’s time for local and national progressive groups to rally behind Stanley before the Aug. 9 primary.

We the undersigned urge everyone in Hawaii and the rest of the United States who considers themselves a progressive to join us in endorsing Stanley Chang for Congress!

Mahalo!