View source for Neil Abercrombie

{{Short description|American politician (born 1938)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Neil Abercrombie
| image               = Neil Abercrombie.jpg
| order               = 7th [[Governor of Hawaii]]
| lieutenant          = [[Brian Schatz]]<br />[[Shan Tsutsui]]
| term_start          = December 6, 2010
| term_end            = December 1, 2014
| predecessor         = [[Linda Lingle]]
| successor           = [[David Ige]]
| state1              = [[Hawaii]]
| district1           = [[Hawaii's 1st congressional district|1st]]
| term_start1         = January 3, 1991
| term_end1           = February 28, 2010
| predecessor1        = [[Pat Saiki]]
| successor1          = [[Charles Djou]]
| term_start2         = September 20, 1986
| term_end2           = January 3, 1987
| predecessor2        = [[Cecil Heftel]]
| successor2          = [[Pat Saiki]]
| office3             = Member of the [[Honolulu City Council]]
| term3               = 1988&ndash;1990
| office4             = Member of the [[Hawaii Senate]]
| term4               = 1980&ndash;1986
| office5             = Member of the<br>[[Hawaii House of Representatives]]
| term5               = 1975&ndash;1979
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1938|6|26}}
| birth_place         = [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Nancie Caraway]]|1981}}
| education           = [[Union College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB]])<br />[[University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]], [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])
| signature           = Neil Abercrombie signature.jpeg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2011
}}
'''Neil Abercrombie''' (born June 26, 1938) is an American politician who served as the seventh [[governor of Hawaii]] from 2010 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kerr|first=Keoki|title=Abercrombie launches re-election campaign as GOP opponents mull running against him|url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/22112805/abercrombie-launches-re-election-campaign-as-gop-opponents-mull-running-against-him|publisher=Hawaii News Now|access-date=May 2, 2014|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref> He is a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].

Born in [[Buffalo, New York]], Abercrombie is a graduate of [[Union College]] and the [[University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa]]. He began his political career in 1975, winning a seat in the [[Hawaii House of Representatives|Hawai'i House of Representatives]]. He served in the Hawai'i House until 1979, when he was elected to the [[Hawaii State Senate|Hawai'i State Senate]]. Upon the resignation of [[Cecil Heftel]], who resigned from the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] to run for governor, Abercrombie was elected to his vacant seat in a special election in 1986, but lost the Democratic primary for a full term on the same day. Abercrombie served the remainder of Heftel's term until January 1987. He served on the [[Honolulu City Council]] from 1988 to 1990 before returning to [[United States Congress|Congress]] in 1991. Abercrombie served nine consecutive terms in the House from 1993 to 2010, representing [[Hawaii's 1st congressional district|Hawai'i's 1st congressional district]], consisting of urban [[Honolulu]].

With incumbent Governor [[Linda Lingle]] prevented from running for reelection due to term limits, Abercrombie declared his candidacy for governor in March 2009. In September 2010 he won the five-candidate Democratic primary with 59% of the vote. Abercrombie went on to face [[Republican Party United States|Republican]] nominee, [[Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Duke Aiona]], in the [[2010 Hawaii gubernatorial election|general election]]. On November 2, 2010, Abercrombie and running mate [[Brian Schatz]] defeated Aiona with 57% of the vote. Abercrombie was sworn into office on December 6, 2010. In [[2014 Hawaii gubernatorial election|2014]], he was defeated in the Democratic primary by state senator [[David Ige]], who went on to win the general election.

==Early life and education==
Abercrombie was born on June 26, 1938, in Buffalo, New York, the son of Vera June (née Grader) and George Donald Abercrombie. He has [[English Americans|English]], [[Irish Americans|Irish]] and [[German Americans|German]] ancestors. His paternal great-grandfather James Abercrombie left Ireland for Canada; his son then immigrated to the United States.<ref name=fsopgs>{{cite web| author=Ancestry.com|work=RootsWeb|title=Ancestries of Members of the United States House of Representatives: Neil A. Abercrombie|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/reps/abercrombie.htm|access-date=2011-02-24}}</ref> After graduating from Williamsville High School (now [[Williamsville South High School]]), Abercrombie pursued studies in sociology at [[Union College (New York)|Union College]] in [[Schenectady, New York]], where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1959 and was a member of the [[Phi Delta Theta]] fraternity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Capitol Phis – Phi Delta Theta Washington DC Alumni Club |url=https://phideltdc.com/capitol-phis/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=phideltdc.com}}</ref> He arrived in [[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]] in September 1959 to study at the [[University of Hawaii at Manoa|University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa]], where he earned a master's degree in sociology and later a [[Doctor of Philosophy|doctorate]] in American Studies.<ref>{{cite web|author=Abercrombie for Governor|title=About Neil Abercrombie|url=http://www.neilabercrombie.com/index.php/about|access-date=2011-02-24}}</ref> At the university he befriended and attended classes with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]]'s parents, [[Ann Dunham]] and [[Barack Obama Sr.]]<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Ripley|first=Amanda|title=The Story of Barack Obama's Mother|date=April 9, 2008|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|issn=0040-781X|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1729524-1,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414004115/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1729524-1,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 14, 2008|page=2|access-date=2011-02-24}}</ref>

To support himself as a graduate student, Abercrombie worked as a waiter at Chuck's Steak House in [[Waikiki|Waikīkī]], a locker desk clerk at the Central [[YMCA]], a custodian at Mother Rice Preschool, a construction apprentice program director, an elementary school teacher, and a college lecturer.<ref>{{cite web| title=Governor's Biography|url=http://governor.hawaii.gov/governors-bio/| access-date=2013-11-27}}</ref>

==Political career==
Abercrombie first participated in a political campaign in 1970, seeking the Democratic nomination for [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]. Unsuccessful, Abercrombie ran for the [[Hawaii State House of Representatives|Hawai'i State House of Representatives]], where he served from 1975 to 1979. A distinguishing symbol of his early campaigns was a yellow [[Checker Taxi]] with his name and face painted on the side, the use of which was motivated by lack of money for traditional campaigning methods. The taxi became a symbol of both his standing as an outsider from the mainland and his unconventional style.<ref>{{cite news | title=Politician's big yellow taxi replaced by a leased SUV | newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser | date=August 11, 2011 | url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20110811__Politicians_big_yellow_taxi_replaced_by_a_leased_SUV.html | access-date=2011-08-13 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Subscription required)</ref> In 1979, Abercrombie was elected to the [[Hawaii State Senate|Hawai'i State Senate]], where he served from 1980 to 1986. After U.S. Representative Cecil Heftel resigned in July 1986 to run for governor of Hawai'i, Abercrombie was elected to the House in a September 1986 special election to complete Heftel's unexpired term. On the same day, he lost the Democratic primary for a full two-year term to [[Mufi Hannemann]], who lost to Republican [[Pat Saiki]] in the general election.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rudin |first=Ken |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6154147 |title=Democrats Poised to Make Gubernatorial Gains |publisher=NPR |date=2006-09-27 |access-date=2010-08-23}}</ref>

Abercrombie then set his sights on a seat of the [[Honolulu City Council]]. He won the race and served from 1988 to 1990.

===U.S. Congress===
At the end of his council tenure in 1990, Abercrombie once again ran for Congress and won. He was reelected ten times. In the 2008 election, he won with 70.6% of the vote.

Abercrombie was a member of the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]] and compiled a generally liberal voting record. He supported and voted for the 2001 [[No Child Left Behind Act]].<ref>{{USHRollCall|2001|145}}</ref> On October 10, 2002, he was among the 133 members of the House who voted against authorizing the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{USHRollCall|2002|455}}</ref> He cosponsored H.R. 1312 (Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2005) on July 28, 2005.<ref>{{USBill|109|HR|1312}}</ref> He took issue with the Vatican over not listing torture as a sin.<ref>{{cite news | last=Camire | first=Dennis | title=Abercrombie seeks Vatican's view on torture | date=March 17, 2008 | newspaper=Honolulu Advertiser | url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Mar/17/ln/hawaii803170350.html | access-date=2011-02-24 | archive-date=May 21, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521130509/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Mar/17/ln/hawaii803170350.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to [[Project Vote Smart]], Abercrombie holds the following issue positions: he is pro-choice, has voted against a ban on partial birth abortion, and has voted with the interests of [[NARAL]] and [[Planned Parenthood]] 100% of the time between 2000 and 2006. He has voted for bills designed to make it easier for Americans to vote, such as the motor voter bill. He has advocated strongly for civil liberties; his voting record is supported by both the [[American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)]] and [[American Library Association]]. He was one of the 67 representatives to vote against the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] (DOMA) in 1996 and has also voted against a constitutional amendment proposed in 2006 to limit marriage to being between one man and one woman.<ref>{{USHRollCall|2006|378}}</ref> He was one of only nine representatives not to cast a vote for or against the [[USA PATRIOT Act]] in 2001.<ref>{{USHRollCall|2001|398}}</ref> In 2005 he voted against the extension of the act, calling it "a blank check to trample civil liberties."<ref>{{cite news | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=Honolulu Advertiser | title=Hawai'i congressmen divided over Patriot Act | date=December 14, 2005 | url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Dec/14/br/br06p.html | access-date=2011-02-24 | archive-date=November 11, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111103052/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Dec/14/br/br06p.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2007 he signed on as a co-sponsor of [[United States National Health Care Act|H.R. 676]], which would have established a national health insurance program.<ref>{{USBill|110|HR|676}}</ref> He resigned from Congress on February 28, 2010, to concentrate on his campaign for governor.<ref>{{cite news | last=DePledge | first=Derrick | title=Abercrombie files papers, calls for furlough action | date=March 2, 2010 | newspaper=Honolulu Advertiser | url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Mar/02/ln/hawaii3020320.html | access-date=2011-02-24 | archive-date=November 11, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111034923/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Mar/02/ln/hawaii3020320.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Abercrombie served as chairman of the Armed Forces Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces and a senior member of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|Natural Resources Committee]]. He co-authored landmark legislation creating public-private partnerships between the military and private developers to build, maintain and manage housing for military families.

===2010 gubernatorial campaign===
{{See also|2010 Hawaii gubernatorial election}}
[[File:Election Night - Abercrombie HQ (5152499895).jpg|thumb|Abercrombie celebrating his 2010 victory]]
[[File:Abercrombie and Schatz 2010.jpg|thumb|Neil Abercrombie and his running mate [[Brian Schatz]] with their spouses on the day of the election]]
On March 9, 2009, Abercrombie announced his candidacy for governor of Hawai'i.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mari |first=Roger |url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/global/story.asp?s=9969713 |title=Neil Abercrombie formally announces run for Hawaii governor's seat |publisher=HawaiiNewsNow.com |date=March 9, 2009 |access-date=2010-08-23 |archive-date=May 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521130510/http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/global/story.asp?s=9969713 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On December 11, 2009, he announced that he would resign from Congress to concentrate on his gubernatorial bid. He was succeeded in Congress by Republican [[Charles Djou]], the first Republican elected to Congress from Hawai'i since Pat Saiki.

During his campaign, Abercrombie released his "A New Day in Hawai'i Plan,"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://governor.hawaii.gov/a-new-day-in-hawaii-plan/ |title=A New Day in Hawaii Plan &#124; Neil Abercrombie |website=governor.hawaii.gov |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122211206/http://governor.hawaii.gov/a-new-day-in-hawaii-plan/ |archive-date=22 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> offering a roadmap based on Hawai'i's values and priorities. The plan was the result of conversations with thousands of people and many hours of research. Abercrombie met with business people, entrepreneurs, economists, principals, teachers, parents, academics, public employees, farmers, nonprofit leaders, health professionals, students, seniors, conservationists, cultural practitioners, construction workers, and citizens of all backgrounds. He also held dozens of issue forums and meetings on every island to hear from residents about their concerns and hopes for Hawai'i.<ref>{{cite web | last=Abercrombie | first=Neil | url=http://governor.hawaii.gov/a-new-day-in-hawaii-plan/a-new-day-in-hawaii/ | title=A New Day in Hawaii Plan | publisher=State of Hawaii | access-date=2013-11-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222034418/http://governor.hawaii.gov/a-new-day-in-hawaii-plan/a-new-day-in-hawaii/ | archive-date=2013-12-22 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Abercrombie defeated his challenger, former [[Honolulu Mayor]] Mufi Hannemann, in the [[Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2010|2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary election]] on September 18, 2010, 59.3% to 37.7%.<ref>{{cite news | last=DePledge | first=Derrick | title=Blowout: Abercrombie to face Aiona after trouncing Hannemann | date=September 18, 2010 | newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser | url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/elections/2010/primary/20100918_Abercombie_takes_early_lead_in_governors_race.html | access-date=2011-02-24 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213044531/http://www.staradvertiser.com/elections/2010/primary/20100918_Abercombie_takes_early_lead_in_governors_race.html | archive-date=December 13, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| author=State of Hawaii Office of Elections | title=PRIMARY ELECTION 2010 – State of Hawaii – Statewide: FINAL SUMMARY REPORT | date=September 29, 2010 |url=http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2010/primary/files/histatewide.pdf | access-date=2011-02-24}}</ref><ref name=politico>{{cite news|first=Shira|last=Toeplitz |title=Abercrombie triumphs in Hawaii |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/09/abercrombie-triumphs-in-hawaii-042373|work=[[Politico.com]] | date=September 19, 2010 |access-date=2010-10-13}}</ref>

On November 2, 2010, Abercrombie defeated Republican nominee [[Duke Aiona]], 57.8% to 40.8%, to become Hawai'i's 7th governor.<ref>{{cite web| author=State of Hawaii Office of Elections | title=GENERAL ELECTION – State of Hawaii – Statewide: FINAL SUMMARY REPORT | date=November 16, 2010 |url=http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2010/general/files/histatewide.pdf | access-date=2011-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=DePledge | first=Derrick | title=Abercrombie wins all but 1 district | date=November 4, 2010 | newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser | url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20101104_Abercrombie_wins_all_but_1_district.html | access-date=2011-02-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111103944/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20101104_Abercrombie_wins_all_but_1_district.html | archive-date=November 11, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In his November 3 victory speech, he credited many people for his success, including the founder of the Department of Religion at the [[University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa]], Dr. [[Mitsuo Aoki]].

===Governor of Hawaii===
[[File:Neil Abercrombie sworn in as Governor of Hawaii.jpg|left|thumb|Neil Abercrombie sworn in as Governor of Hawaii by [[Supreme Court of Hawaii|Hawaii Supreme Court]] Justice [[James E. Duffy Jr.|James Duffy]]]]
Abercrombie was sworn in as governor of Hawai'i on December 6, 2010, the first gubernatorial victor of the 2010 election cycle to be sworn into office.

Abercrombie was 72 when he was sworn in as governor, and was the [[List of current United States governors by age|oldest current United States governor]] for a little less than a month. On January 3, 2011, he lost that title to [[Jerry Brown]] of California, who is two months older than Abercrombie.

When Abercrombie took office, he vowed to end the investigations into President Obama's birth certificate. A spokesperson for Abercrombie said he would ask the office of the Attorney General what it could do.<ref>{{cite news | last=Shikina | first=Rob | title=Requests increase for Obama birth proof | date=December 25, 2010 | newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser | url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/obama/20101225_requests_increase_for_obama_birth_proof.html | access-date=2011-03-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012093020/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/obama/20101225_requests_increase_for_obama_birth_proof.html | archive-date=October 12, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Attorney General of Hawaii|State Attorney General]] [[David M. Louie]] informed Abercrombie that state privacy laws prevent the release of "an individual's birth documentation without the person's consent" to persons who do not have "a tangible interest" in the document.<ref>{{cite news | agency=Associated Press | title=Governor halts Obama-birth effort | date=January 22, 2011 | newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser | url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110122_Governor_halts_Obama-birth_effort.html | access-date=2011-02-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225111324/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110122_Governor_halts_Obama-birth_effort.html | archive-date=February 25, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to polls, in October 2011, Abercrombie was the least popular governor in the country, with a 30% approval rating.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/132348438.html|title=Abercrombie's job approval rating at lowest level for U.S. governors|publisher=StarAdvertiser|date=October 21, 2011|access-date=October 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502210202/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/132348438.html|archive-date=May 2, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In February 2011, Abercrombie signed into law a [[Hawaii Senate Bill 232|bill legalizing civil unions]]. His predecessor, Linda Lingle, had [[Hawaii House Bill 444|vetoed the legislation]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Reyes | first=B.J. | title='Today is an amazing day' | date=February 24, 2011 | newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser | volume=130 | issue=24 | page=A1 | url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110224_Today_is_an_amazing_day.html | access-date=2011-02-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123101007/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110224_Today_is_an_amazing_day.html | archive-date=January 23, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2013, he called the Hawai'i Legislature into a special session to consider a [[Hawaii Marriage Equality Act|bill legalizing same-sex marriage]], which he signed into law on November 13.

Upon the death of longtime Senator [[Daniel Inouye]], Abercrombie had to appoint his replacement. The State Democratic Party gave him a list of three finalists and he chose Lieutenant Governor [[Brian Schatz]], despite Inouye's stated wish that he select [[Colleen Hanabusa]]. Schatz is now Hawai'i's senior [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]].

Obama appointed Abercrombie to the [[Council of Governors]], and he served from 2012 to 2014. The council consists of 10 governors the president appoints to focus on national security, homeland defense, and synchronization and integration of state and federal military activities in the United States and matters of mutual interest pertaining to the [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]].<ref>{{cite press release| title=Nation's Governors Welcome New Council of Governors Appointments| publisher=National Governors Association (NGA)| date=2011-03-09 |url=http://governor.hawaii.gov/governors-bio/}}</ref>

In November 2013, Abercrombie was named to Obama's Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, a group of governors, mayors and other leaders who were to develop recommendations on how the federal government could better support local preparedness and resilience-building efforts.<ref>{{cite press release| title=FACT SHEET: Executive Order on Climate Preparedness| date=2013-11-01| access-date=2013-11-27| via=[[NARA|National Archives]]| work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/11/01/fact-sheet-executive-order-climate-preparedness}}</ref> Hawai'i also signed on to the [[Majuro Declaration]] as a U.S. Climate Leader in September of that year, making the state the first sub-national government to sign.<ref>{{cite news| title=Hawaii first sub-national government to sign Majuro Declaration| date=2013-09-30| access-date=2013-11-27| publisher=KITV| url=http://www.kitv.com/news/hawaii/hawaii-first-subnational-government-to-sign-majuro-declaration/-/8905354/22206354/-/joh9huz/-/index.html?absolute=true}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

After an intense special session, Abercrombie signed into law a bill that legalized marriage for same-sex couples in Hawai'i. The new law took effect on December 2, 2013. Hawaii was the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news| last=Lincoln| first=Mileka | title=Hawaii lawmakers begin gay marriage special session| publisher=Hawaii News Now| date=2013-10-28| access-date=2013-11-27|url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/23811051/hawaii-lawmakers-question-benefits-of-gay-marriage}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Lincoln| first=Mileka | title=Abercrombie calls for special session on same-sex marriage| publisher=Hawaii News Now| date=2013-09-09| access-date=2013-11-27|url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/23383679/abercrombie-to-call-for-special-session-on-same-sex-marriage}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Garcia| first=Oscar| title=Gov. signs bill legalizing gay marriage in Hawaii| publisher=Associated Press| date=2013-11-12| access-date=2013-11-27| url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/23952629/gov-signs-bill-legalizing-gay-marriage-in-hawaii}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release| title=Gov. Abercrombie Signs Historic Marriage Equity Legislation into Law| publisher=Office of the Governor, State of Hawaii| date=2013-11-13| access-date=2013-11-27| url=http://governor.hawaii.gov/blog/gov-abercrombie-signs-historic-marriage-equity-legislation-into-law/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122211217/http://governor.hawaii.gov/blog/gov-abercrombie-signs-historic-marriage-equity-legislation-into-law/| archive-date=2013-11-22| url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the [[2014 Hawaii gubernatorial election|August 9, 2014, Democratic gubernatorial primary]], Abercrombie was defeated by state senator [[David Ige]], taking 31% of the vote to Ige's 67%, making him the first incumbent governor to lose a primary in Hawai'i's history. The margin of defeat was the largest of any incumbent governor in U.S. history<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=Sean|title=Hawaii governor falls to Democratic primary challenger|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/08/10/hawaii-governor-falls-to-democratic-primary-challenger/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=10 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Lovett|first1=Ian|title=Hawaiian Governor Loses Primary by Wide Margin; Senate Race Is Undecided|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/11/us/politics/hawaii-primary.html?ref=politics&_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=August 10, 2014 |access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/a-failure-to-launch-kansas-republican-gubernatorial-contest-and-the-history-of-incumbent-governor-primary-performance/|title=Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » A Failure to Launch? Kansas' Republican Gubernatorial Contest and the History of Incumbent Governor Primary Performance|website=www.centerforpolitics.org|date=August 9, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-13}}</ref> (though not the smallest share of the vote). Abercrombie had the support of President [[Barack Obama]] and had outspent Ige $4.9 million to $447,000 during the primary campaign. His confrontational style of governing, his proposal to raise taxes in the aftermath of the [[Great Recession]], restructuring labor union pensions, and his selection of [[Brian Schatz]] over [[Colleen Hanabusa]] to fill the Senate seat vacated by [[Daniel Inouye]]'s death, which was considered by some to be disrespectful of Inouye's wishes, were regarded as factors in Abercrombie's loss.[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/08/10/ige-gov-abercrombie-hawaii-primary/13856153/] Nonetheless, Schatz, who was also endorsed by Obama, defeated Hanabusa in the [[2014 United States Senate special election in Hawaii#Results|2014 Democratic Senate primary]] and went on to win the general election.

==Personal life==

In 1981, Abercrombie married [[Nancie Caraway]],<ref>{{cite news| title=NANCIE E. CARAWAY MARRIED TO NEIL ABERCROMBIE | date=July 19, 1981 | newspaper=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/19/style/nancie-e-caraway-married-to-neil-abercrombie.html | access-date=2011-02-24}}</ref> a political scientist and feminist writer at the [[University of Hawaii at Manoa|University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's]] Globalization Research Center. Abercrombie lives in the [[Manoa Valley|Mānoa Valley]] area of [[Honolulu]].<ref>{{cite web| author=Hawaii Magazine | title=Inside the creative Manoa home of former Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie | date=July 27, 2017 |url=https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/content/inside-creative-manoa-home-former-hawaii-gov-neil-abercrombie | access-date=2018-04-12}}</ref>

Abercrombie is a [[powerlifter]] and has a stated goal of lifting 200 pounds more than his age on each birthday.<ref>{{cite news| last=Eisele | first=Albert | title=Menendez: Turn the tables on journos | date=July 5, 2005 | newspaper=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/5000-menendez-turn-the-tables-on-journos/ | access-date=2011-02-24}}</ref> On his 72nd birthday, he bench-pressed 272 pounds.<ref>{{cite web| author=Crisitunity | title=SSP Daily Digest: 9/17 | work=Swing State Project | date=September 17, 2010 |url=http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/7619/ssp-daily-digest-917 | access-date=2011-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Abercrombie takes oath to become Hawaii's 7th governor | date=December 6, 2010 | newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser | url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Inauguration_festivities_begin_for_Gov-elect_Abercrombie.html | access-date=2011-02-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015150459/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Inauguration_festivities_begin_for_Gov-elect_Abercrombie.html | archive-date=October 15, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2006, Abercrombie was named "Scot of the Year" by the Caledonian Society of Hawai'i.<ref>{{cite web | author=Caledonian Society of Hawaii | title=Scots of the Year | date=March 12, 2009 | url=http://www.scotsinhawaii.org/caledonian_special.html | access-date=2011-02-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425150306/http://www.scotsinhawaii.org/caledonian_special.html | archive-date=April 25, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{CongLinks | congbio=a000014 | votesmart= | fec=H6HI01121 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
*[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/400001 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
*[http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400001 Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
*[http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00007665 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
*[http://www.legistorm.com/member/101/Rep_Neil_Abercrombie.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
*-->

==External links==
{{Commons category|Neil Abercrombie}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131105182503/http://neilabercrombie.com/ Neil Abercrombie for Governor]
*The African Activist Archive Project website includes [http://africanactivist.msu.edu/document_metadata.php?objectid=32-130-22F9 Statement from Councilmember Neil Abercrombie for the Rally in Support of South African Freedom, March 21, 1990]
*{{C-SPAN|16753}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Abercrombie, Neil}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
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[[Category:20th-century American Episcopalians]]
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[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]