Rep. Don Young is anything but conventional. Still, the Alaska Republican appeared to take that reputation to a new level Tuesday by crossing oceans and party lines to make a very unusual endorsement.
Young announced his endorsement of Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono in the Hawaii Democratic Senate primary.
"Here's what's important, Hawaii: If you're looking for a United States senator who doesn't just talk about 'bipartisanship' but actually knows how to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get things done, Mazie Hirono will be that senator," Young said in a new campaign ad poking fun at the two candidates' opposing ideologies.
Lawmakers in Hawaii and Alaska have long been linked by their status as outsiders to the lower 48 states. In this instance, Young is siding with Hirono, who is up against former Rep. Ed Case, who rankled scores of establishment politicians in Hawaii as well as in Washington in 2006 by attempting to oust longtime Hawaii Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka, who is retiring this year.
In a press release, the Hirono campaign touted the joint efforts between Hirono and Young on native education programs and their plans to assist farmers in their respective states.
Hawaii is typically a Democratic-leaning state where Democratic primaries are often the deciding contests. But there's one Republican who turns that trend on its head: former Gov. Linda Lingle, who is running in this year's Senate race. Lingle's presence gives Republicans their ultimate best shot at overtaking the seat this fall, making Young's decision to endorse Hirono all the more unusual.