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It is Green’s first trip to Washington since being sworn in as Hawaii’s governor.
WASHINGTON — Hawaii Gov. Josh Green was scheduled to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Tuesday in the nation’s capitol as a guest of an old political rival — U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda.
Green and Tokuda squared off in 2018 while vying to become Hawaii’s lieutenant governor.
Green ultimately prevailed in large part due to an influx of outside money that was poured into the race on his behalf by a super PAC with deep ties to the construction industry and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters in particular.
In a press release, Tokuda focused on Green and her achievements when they worked together in the Hawaii State Senate and said that she was looking forward to continuing in that tradition now that both of them hold higher office.
“As parents of young children, we share a sense of urgency to take on some of the toughest issues facing our families and communities,” Tokuda said. “Our work together will ensure that Hawaii has a strong state and federal partnership as we uplift Hawaii as a model for preventing gun violence, fight to lower health care costs and expand access in rural communities, and take on the climate crisis.”
In a written statement, Green said he was glad to be reuniting with Tokuda in Washington.
“We will have some time to discuss our common priorities for how we can best, collaboratively, serve the people of Hawaii,” he said.
Green is making his first trip to Washington since being sworn in as Hawaii governor in early December. In addition to connecting with lawmakers, he will be attending the National Governors Association’s winter meeting and visiting the White House.
Other guests of Hawaii’s federal delegation for Tuesday’s State of the Union include Kalei Grant, a Native Hawaiian survivor of sex trafficking who was invited by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, and Megan Ansdell, a NASA scientist who is Hawaii Congressman Ed Case’s daughter.
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Nick Grube is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at nick@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at @nickgrube. You can also reach him by phone at 808-377-0246.