Brian Schatz was chosen to replace late Sen. Daniel Inouye. (Kyle Nishioka/Creative Commons)

Schatz, a 40-year-old Democrat born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was chosen out of a pool of three. Others in the running included Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) and Esther Kiaaina, the Deputy Director of Natural Resources who also unsuccessfully ran for the House of Representatives in 2012.

According to the Associated Press, in a letter sent to Gov. Abercrombie, Sen. Inouye said he wanted Rep. Hanabusa to replace him. The AP does point out the inconvenience of nominating a sitting Congresswoman. According to the Huffington Post, Schatz does plan to run again in 2016.

The AP also reported that if Schatz is sworn in before the inauguration of the next Congress, he would be the senior senator from Hawaii because current Sen. Akaka is retiring.

Schatz will be going to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night.

Sen. Inouye was on the Appropriations Committee and Sen. Leahy, who is the new President Pro Tempore of the Senate, has said he will not take Inouye’s position.

Reach Staff Reporter Max Schwartz here; follow him on Twitter here.