Chin named Hawaii lieutenant governor

HONOLULU (AP) — The man who led Hawaii’s fight against the Trump administration’s travel ban is now the state’s second highest officeholder.

Doug Chin’s spokesman Dylan Beesley says Chin signed the oath of office to become lieutenant governor at 7 a.m. Friday.

The former state attorney general succeeds Shan Tsutsui, who resigned Wednesday to take a job with a lobbying firm and spend more time with his family on Maui.

Chin was third in line for the job, after the Senate president and House speaker. Both declined the post.

Chin will continue campaigning for Congress while serving as lieutenant governor. He had already planned to step down as attorney general in March to focus on the campaign.

He aims to replace U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is challenging Gov. David Ige in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Ige named Russell Suzuki acting attorney general until he finds a permanent replacement for Chin.