HONOLULU, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Hawaiians sent Mazie Hirono to the U.S. Senate, with the congresswoman defeating former Gov. Linda Lingle in Election Day voting, official tallies indicate.
Hirono, a Democrat, beat Republican opponent Lingle 62 percent to 37 percent to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported Wednesday.
Hirono, 65, is the first Asian-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
She lost the governor's seat to Lingle in 2002.
Lingle had lost support because of her cuts to public education and the effects of the recession. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce had spent more than $1.2 million to support her campaign.
The state's voters also gave their overwhelming support to native son President Barack Obama, who received 70.6 percent of the vote, with 100 percent of precincts reporting.
In 2008, Obama received 72 percent of the state's vote.
