Yes, Brian Schatz, the new US senator from Hawaii, is a Jew.JTA reports:
Hawaii's governor named his Jewish lieutenant governor, Brian Schatz, to replace the late Daniel Inouye in the U.S. Senate.Hat tip to Henry, David and others...
Gov. Neil Abercrombie, a Democrat, on Wednesday named Schatz, a former chairman of the state Democratic Party, to replace Inouye, who died last week.
Schatz, 40, lists his religion as Jewish on his Facebook page.
...Inouye, who was a pro-Israel leader in the Senate and who once considered converting to Judaism, had told Abercrombie that his preferred successor would be U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii).
Inouye's office said it was "disappointed" but wished Schatz the best of luck, the Associated Press reported.
Schatz will serve until 2014, when there will be a general election for the seat.
Schatz brings to 11 the number of U.S. Senators who identify as Jewish.
All are Democrats, except for Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who is an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats. Additionally, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) does not identify a religion but notes that his mother is Jewish.
Bernie, you are not in Kansas anymore. Do you not remember the trouble the Hillers had coming forth?
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