Civil Beat recently explored whether former state Sen. Gary Hooser had crossed the line from “testing the waters” for congressional candidacy to acting like a candidate. 

Hooser, a Democrat, still hasn’t filed a statement of candidacy in the 2nd Congressional District race, but has filed a statement of organization for his campaign committee: It means he has filed one of two critical pieces of paperwork in a congressional campaign. 

Hooser sent out what looked like another campaign message on Sunday, asking for donations to help him “get started.”

“I want very much to run and to serve,” Hooser wrote. “But first we must finalize our basic organization ensuring we have a strong statewide team in place, our fundraising on track, and complete the due diligence necessary to support a winning campaign.”

He also took the opportunity to pick apart one of his would-be opponents, Democratic former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann: 

“Mufi Hannemann will not go against the business and benefactors that have groomed and supported him for all these years. Of this you can be sure,” Hooser wrote. “So I face a choice, but you face one as well. You can help me do what is in my heart and soul which is to serve your interests in Congress, or you can choose the status quo and politics as usual.”

While Hooser is thus far avoiding sharing his fundraising records with the public, the Federal Election Commission requires that he will have to file paperwork showing the money he raised and spent to “test the waters” if he formally becomes a candidate.