Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who may benefit from her ties to the late Sen. Daniel Inouye as she runs for his old seat against Sen. Brian Schatz, invoked Inouye’s name earlier today at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

Inouye, of course, had wanted Hanabusa to replace him. While it remains to be seen how much the Inouye factor will play in her race, it doesn’t hurt to highlight opportunities to remind voters of Inouye’s wishes.

Speaking at the institute’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration, which paid tribute to Inouye in a building named in his honor, Hanabusa said,  “I am moved seeing Senator Inouye’s name on this state-of-the-art facility. It is a fitting tribute. 

“He stood as its advocate because he knew from experience the importance of quality medicine and quality research,” Hanabusa said, according to a press release from her office. “He believed the care he received in military hospitals saved his life, and he worked tirelessly throughout his career to give back in any way he could.”

— Kery Murakami