Honolulu City Council Chairman Ikaika Anderson on Monday announced his endorsement of state Sen. Kai Kahele’s campaign for the U. S. Congress.

“We need a member of Congress who will stay fully engaged with our communities so that he or she can best represent us in Washington, D.C.,” Anderson said in a press release. “I know Kai Kahele is that person because that is the type of public servant he has proven himself to be. I trust his leadership, I trust his judgment, I trust his values and I trust his commitment to the people of Hawaii.”

Kahele, a Democrat who represents Hilo in the Hawaii Legislature, is running to take the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii).

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Gabbard is running for president and has not said whether she might also seek to retain her District 2 seat, which represents the neighbor islands and all rural and most suburban areas of Oahu.

Anderson represents Windward Oahu in Council District 3, which includes Waimanalo, Kailua, Kaneohe and Ahuimanu.

Former Hawaii Governors John Waihee, Ben Cayetano and Neil Abercrombie have already formally endorsed Kahele.