section_path: United States House of Representatives (2013–2021)/113th Congress
section_name: 113th Congress
paragraph_text: 113th Congress
  
  In early 2011, Mazie Hirono, the incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate. In May 2011, Gabbard declared her candidacy for the open House seat. The Democratic mayor of Honolulu, Mufi Hannemann, was considered the frontrunner in the six-way primary, but Gabbard won with 55% of the vote. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser described her victory as an "improbable rise from a distant underdog to victory." She resigned from the Honolulu City Council on August 16, 2012, to focus on her congressional campaign.
  
  As the Democratic nominee, Gabbard was invited by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to speak at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, where she was introduced as "an emerging star." Gabbard was one of three female House candidates that were chosen to speak on-stage during a segment of the convention highlighting female membership in the party's House delegation. In her remarks (approximately one minute in length), she touched on her military background and praised President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden (the party's national ticket) as "the strongest advocates military families could have". In the general election, she defeated Republican Kawika Crowley with 80.6% of the vote, becoming the first voting Samoan American and first Hindu member of Congress.
  
  In December 2012, Gabbard applied for appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the death of Daniel Inouye. Despite support from some prominent mainland Democrats, she was not among the three candidates forwarded to the governor by the Hawaii Democratic Party.
  
  In March 2013, she introduced the Helping Heroes Fly Act to expedite airport security screening for severely wounded veterans. The bill received bipartisan support, passed unanimously in both chambers of Congress, and was signed into law by President Obama. She also introduced the House version of the Military Justice Improvement Act.
  
  In early 2011, Mazie Hirono, the incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate. In May 2011, Gabbard declared her candidacy for the open House seat. The Democratic mayor of Honolulu, Mufi Hannemann, was considered the frontrunner in the six-way primary, but Gabbard won with 55% of the vote. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser described her victory as an "improbable rise from a distant underdog to victory." She resigned from the Honolulu City Council on August 16, 2012, to focus on her congressional campaign.
  
  As the Democratic nominee, Gabbard was invited by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to speak at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, where she was introduced as "an emerging star." Gabbard was one of three female House candidates that were chosen to speak on-stage during a segment of the convention highlighting female membership in the party's House delegation. In her remarks (approximately one minute in length), she touched on her military background and praised President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden (the party's national ticket) as "the strongest advocates military families could have". In the general election, she defeated Republican Kawika Crowley with 80.6% of the vote, becoming the first voting Samoan American and first Hindu member of Congress.
  
  In December 2012, Gabbard applied for appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the death of Daniel Inouye. Despite support from some prominent mainland Democrats, she was not among the three candidates forwarded to the governor by the Hawaii Democratic Party.
  
  In March 2013, she introduced the Helping Heroes Fly Act to expedite airport security screening for severely wounded veterans. The bill received bipartisan support, passed unanimously in both chambers of Congress, and was signed into law by President Obama. She also introduced the House version of the Military Justice Improvement Act.