Former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono filed papers yesterday in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House in the 2nd Congressional District.

Hirono had said she was running in the primary and had raised nearly $300,000 through March to take a fundraising lead over other Democrats. Her filing with the state elections office makes her campaign formal.

Hirono served two terms as Hawai'i's lieutenant governor under former Gov. Ben Cayetano and lost the 2002 governor's race to Linda Lingle. Hirono also served for 14 years in the state House.

"I think people are going to care about who has been effective," she said of primary voters.

Other candidates in the Democratic primary include former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga, state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, state Sen. Ron Menor, state Sen. Gary Hooser and state Rep. Brian Schatz. Candidates in the Republican primary are state Sen. Bob Hogue and former state Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa.

The seat is being vacated because U.S. Rep. Ed Case is challenging U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.