This State Is A Reminder That Americans Can Elect More Than White Men

James Cave
Updated

Let's face it: The 113th Congress is still, by and large, run by white men. But Hawaii's delegation is more diverse, with only one of the state's four members of Congress being a white man -- and that isn't likely to change in November's elections.

In Hawaii's 1st Congressional District, Mark Takai (D) and Charles Djou (R) -- both of whom are Asian-American -- are locked in a tight battle. In the 2nd District, incumbent and Samoan-American Tulsi Gabbard (D), the first Hindu in Congress, is expected to win with as much as 80 percent of the vote.

Appointed Sen. Brian Schatz (D) -- currently the only white male in Hawaii's delegation -- is heavily favored to carry the Senate seat that used to belong to the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D), the first Japanese-American elected to both the House and Senate.

Hawaii's other Senate seat belongs to Japanese-American Mazie Hirono (D), who is not up for re-election this year. She is the first Asian-American woman to be elected to the Senate, the first U.S. senator born in Japan, and the nation's first Buddhist senator.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

Hawaii's diversity on the ballot extends beyond Congress, too. Look no further than the state's race for governor. David Ige (D), a Japanese-American, is polling slightly ahead of his closest competitor, Duke Aiona (R), who is Portuguese, Native Hawaiian and Chinese-American. In August, Ige beat incumbent (and Caucasian) Neil Abercrombie in a historic primary upset.

The leading candidates for lieutenant governor are also diverse: Shan Tsutsui (D), who is a Japanese-American, and Elwin Ahu (R), who is Native Hawaiian and Chinese.

Hawaii's multicultural ballot isn't surprising considering the Aloha State is the only state in the union without an ethnic majority. Demographically, Hawaii has the highest percentage of multiracial Americans (23.6 percent), as well as the lowest percentage of white Americans (24.7 percent), of any state.

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.)

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) is rarely seen without one of her signature, colorful, wide-brimmed hats. She's even said she has <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/frederica-wilson-20-best-hats_n_1961656.html">hundreds of hats</a> in her collection.

Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.)

Boozman hears his constituents loud and clear. The Arkansas senator has some of the most distinctive ears in the House. <em><strong>CORRECTION:</strong> This slideshow originally identified Boozman as a member of the House. We have updated to reflect he is a Senator from Arkansas.</em>
Boozman hears his constituents loud and clear. The Arkansas senator has some of the most distinctive ears in the House. CORRECTION: This slideshow originally identified Boozman as a member of the House. We have updated to reflect he is a Senator from Arkansas.

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.)

Though political opponents, including <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/25/mccain-waging-grudge-matc_n_773712.html">Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)</a>, have attempted to use Grijalva's mustache against him, he and his facial hair have risen above their enemies.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)

Rep. DeLauro's short, dark hairdo makes her stand out. She's also known to wear some distinctive glasses and dynamic outfits. <a href="http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1003/hipster_in_the_house.html">Some would even say</a> she's a "hipster."

Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.)

Lankford's bright red hair stands out in the sea of salt-and-pepper congressmen.
Lankford's bright red hair stands out in the sea of salt-and-pepper congressmen.

Speaker Of The House John Boehner (R-Ohio)

Boehner's striking blue eyes are perhaps the most unusual pair in Congress. Also, his skin is orange.
Boehner's striking blue eyes are perhaps the most unusual pair in Congress. Also, his skin is orange.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.)

Wasserman Schultz's curly blonde hair can't be missed. An October 2012 <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/05/debbie-wasserman-schultz-vogue-makeover-overdone_n_1942392.html">Vogue makeover</a> called attention to the Florida representative's style.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.)

King has made some <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/21/peter-king-muslim-radicalization-hearings_n_1613746.html">eyebrow-raising remarks</a>, so it's a good thing his brows are some of the most memorable in all of Congress.

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas)

Most of the men in Congress opt for the clean-shaven look. While the few with facial hair favor the mustache, Green goes all out.
Most of the men in Congress opt for the clean-shaven look. While the few with facial hair favor the mustache, Green goes all out.

Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)

Rep. Duckworth is the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress in Illinois, the first member of Congress born in Thailand and the first woman with disabilities to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. For many reasons she's one of the strongest and most recognizable members of the House.
Rep. Duckworth is the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress in Illinois, the first member of Congress born in Thailand and the first woman with disabilities to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. For many reasons she's one of the strongest and most recognizable members of the House.

Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.)

Noem is more than just a pretty face. Last year, after getting <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/21/kristi-noem-huffington-post-hottest-freshman-unfortunate_n_826006.html">voted hottest freshman in congress,</a> she brushed off the accolade, saying she'd rather the attention be given to her lawmaking skills.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.)

Rep. Engel has donned the same mustache since he was first elected to Congress in the early 1990s, making his facial hair the most reliable and recognizable in the House.
Rep. Engel has donned the same mustache since he was first elected to Congress in the early 1990s, making his facial hair the most reliable and recognizable in the House.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii)

Gabbard stands out from the crowd as the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of Congress.
Gabbard stands out from the crowd as the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of Congress.

Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.)

Kennedy looks strikingly like his famous family members and political predecessors.
Kennedy looks strikingly like his famous family members and political predecessors.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.