Kim considers campaign for Congress

State Senate President Donna Mercado Kim is considering a run for Congress.

Kim told Hawaii News Now that she would make a decision later this year about whether to enter the Democratic primary in urban Honolulu’s 1st Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is vacating the seat to challenge U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary.

Kim would join state Sen. Will Espero, state Rep. K. Mark Takai, Hono-lulu City Councilman Stanley Chang, Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson and activist Kathryn Xian in the primary.

Kim, who represents Kalihi Valley, Moanalua and Halawa in the Senate, would not have to vacate her Senate seat to run because the seat is not up until 2016. She had $278,274 in cash on hand in her Senate campaign account at the end of June.

Kim became Senate president last December after Shan Tsutsui ascended to lieutenant governor.

Kim had unsuccessfully sought the appointment to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. She was not among the three recommendations by the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s state central committee to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Abercrombie selected Schatz, his lieutenant governor, for the appointment.

Kim, who formerly served in the state House and on the Honolulu City Council, was elected to the Senate in 2000. She has led the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Tourism Committee, served as Senate vice president and has conducted oversight investigations into state department operations and the University of Hawaii.