Ed Case

Edward Espenett Case was born on September 27, 1952. He is an American lawyer and politician who belongs to the Democratic Party. Since 2019, he has served as the U.S. representative for Hawaii's 1st congressional district, an area that includes the city center of Honolulu.

Before that, Case was well known in Hawaii for serving as the majority leader of the Hawaii State Legislature. He also ran for governor of Hawaii in 2002 as a Blue Dog Democrat. That same year, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election to replace Patsy Mink, who passed away from pneumonia. He represented Hawaii's 2nd congressional district until 2007.

Case tried to become a U.S. Senator in 2006 but was not successful. He attempted to return to the House of Representatives in 2010 but did not win. In 2018, he ran again for the 1st district and won, taking office in January 2019.

Early life, education, and legal career

Ed Case was born in Hilo and grew up as the oldest of six children. He finished high school at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Kamuela in 1970. After graduating, he spent a year traveling and working in Australia and New Zealand. He then went to Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1975.

He later earned a law degree from the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco in 1981. After that, he worked as a lawyer’s helper for the chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court. He then joined a law firm in Honolulu called Carlsmith Ball, becoming a partner there in 1989. He later served in the Hawaii House of Representatives and then the United States Congress.

Early political career

Ed Case started his political journey as a helper for Congressman and later Senator Spark Matsunaga from 1975 to 1978. In 1985, he was elected to the Mānoa Neighborhood Board of Honolulu and became its chairman in 1987, serving until 1989.

Hawaii House of Representatives

Ed Case began his political career in 1994 when he ran for a seat in the Hawaii House of Representatives. He won the election and was reelected three more times, serving four terms from 1994 to 2002. During his time there, he worked on improving how the state government operated and became Majority Leader in 1999.

Case was known for his independent thinking, even when it was unpopular. For example, he was one of the few to oppose a proposal to change the state constitution regarding relationships, because he believed it went against the purpose of protecting minority rights. He also helped sponsor a bill about fair treatment for all couples, though it did not pass.

Case served on the House Judiciary Committee during his time in office.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2002

Main article: 2002–03 Hawaii's 2nd congressional district special elections

U.S. Representative Patsy Mink passed away in September 2002, leaving her seat empty. Ed Case was elected in a special vote in November 2002 to finish her term.

2003

Main article: 2003 United States elections § Federal elections

Case ran again in January 2003 and won, becoming the representative for the area.

2004

Main article: 2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii

In 2004, Case won his first full term as representative with lots of votes.

2018

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii § District 1

In 2018, Case won the vote to become the representative for Hawaii’s 1st district.

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii § District 1

Case was reelected in 2020 with lots of votes.

Tenure

2002–2007

Between 2003 and 2006, Case suggested ideas for new laws. Some of these ideas became real laws, like protecting a special place in Hawaii and naming a post office after Patsy Mink.

Case supported staying in Iraq during his time in office. He also often agreed with ideas about taxes.

In 2006, President George W. Bush made a special area around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands protected, which was similar to one of Case’s ideas.

Case suggested many ideas and was present for most votes.

2019–present

Case joined a group of lawmakers in 2019 to focus on issues in the Pacific area.

In 2019, Case suggested a law to make airplane tours quieter and safer after some sad accidents.

In 2019, Case voted to hold a special meeting about President Donald Trump.

In 2021, Case was part of a small group of lawmakers who had concerns about a big plan for the country’s roads and buildings.

As of 2022, Case often agreed with President Joe Biden’s ideas.

In July 2024, Case asked Joe Biden to not run for president again.

In 2025, Case voted with most lawmakers on a few special votes.

Case is known for having ideas that are a bit more careful compared to other lawmakers, and many of his support comes from special groups that help with money for his work.

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security

Caucus memberships

Case's caucus memberships include:

• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (executive board member)
• Congressional Equality Caucus
• Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus
• New Democrat Coalition
• U.S.–Japan Caucus

Other political campaigns

2002 gubernatorial election

Main article: 2002 Hawaii gubernatorial election

In 2001, Ed Case decided not to stay as a leader in the Hawaii State House. Later that year, he announced he wanted to become the governor of Hawaii. His first opponent was Mayor of Honolulu Jeremy Harris. But Harris stopped running in 2002 because of questions about his campaign spending. Another person, Lieutenant Governor Mazie Hirono, then decided to run against Case. In the primary election, Hirono won with 41% of the vote, while Case got 40%.

2006 U.S. Senate election

Main article: 2006 United States Senate election in Hawaii

In 2006, Case tried to become a U.S. Senator, challenging Senator Daniel Akaka. He lost the primary election, getting 45% of the vote compared to Akaka’s 55%.

2010 special congressional election

Main article: 2010 Hawaii's 1st congressional district special election

In 2009, Case said he wanted to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Hawaii’s 1st congressional district. His main opponents were fellow Democrat Colleen Hanabusa and Republican Charles Djou. In the election held on May 22, 2010, Djou won with 39% of the vote. Hanabusa came in second with 31%, and Case came in third with 28%. After this, Case decided not to run again in the next primary.

2012 U.S. Senate election

Main article: 2012 United States Senate election in Hawaii

In 2011, Case announced he wanted to run for the U.S. Senate again. He faced Mazie Hirono, who had run against him before. This time, Hirono won with a much larger lead, getting 58% of the vote to Case’s 41%.

Papers

Ed Case's important papers are kept at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Library. These papers include things from his time in Congress and the Hawaii legislature, plus materials from his campaigns, both the ones he won and the ones he lost. An archivist named Ellen Chapman organized these papers in 2007. They will be open for people to study and learn from starting on January 3, 2037.

Personal life

Ed Case has two children from his first marriage, which lasted from 1988 to 1998. In 2001, he married Audrey Nakamura, whom he met at their 30th class reunion. Audrey is a flight attendant with United Airlines and also has two children from a previous marriage.

Ed's cousin, Steve Case, co-founded America Online and was the former chairman of Time Warner. Ed Case is Protestant. He has sometimes been criticized for saying he feels like "an Asian trapped in a white body."

Electoral history

Ed Case has been a member of the Democratic Party and has served in important government roles in Hawaii. He was a part of the Hawaii House of Representatives, then ran to become the Governor of Hawaii, and later served in the United States Congress.

He represented a part of Hawaii called the 2nd district from 2002 to 2007 and has been representing another part called the 1st district since 2019. These districts include areas in Honolulu and the rest of the state.