The National Association of Realtors has endorsed former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann for Congress.

The trade group has about 1.1 million members nationally.

Hannemann is running in the Democratic primary to replace U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, who is campaigning for U.S. Senate. He faces Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard, Hilo attorney Bob Marx, former state Office of Hawaiian Affairs chief advocate Esther Kiaaina, and patient rights’ attorney Rafael del Castillo in the primary.

“Mufi Hannemann has been a strong leader for Realtors and homeowners,” Myoung Oh, the director of government affairs for the Hawaii Association of Realtors, said in a statement. “He has demonstrated that affordable housing is a goal that can be realized through public-private partnerships and that the federal government can do more in this arena.  For instance, Congress could create incentives for building affordable housing both in the rental market as well as in home ownership. There are many ways to approach this problem and we feel his experience and success in bringing together the public and private sectors will be beneficial in addressing the housing affordability issue in Hawaii.”