State Sen. Bob Hogue, a TV sportscaster and weekly columnist, said yesterday he may run in the Republican primary for U.S. Congress for the seat being given up by U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai'i.

Hogue, who represents Kailua and Kane'ohe in state Senate District 24, is the second Republican to talk publicly about a possible campaign in a race that has already drawn several Democrats. Mike Gabbard, a former Honolulu City Council member, said he would consider the Republican primary shortly after Case announced in January that he was giving up the seat to run for U.S. Senate against U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.

"I am giving it strong consideration and it is likely that I will set up an exploratory committee here very shortly," Hogue said. "A lot of people are encouraging me to consider it."

Hogue said he wants to gauge the depth of his political support and whether he can raise about $250,000 to be competitive in the 2nd Congressional District, which covers Central, Leeward and Windward O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands. He said he has been approached to run for Congress over the past several years.

"It seems that the time might be right now," said Hogue, who would have to give up his Senate seat to run for Congress since he is up for re-election this year.

Hogue and Gabbard each have potential strengths in the district. Hogue has represented the Windward side in the Senate for the past six years and has some name recognition statewide as a sportscaster, particularly from his days with KHON2 News. Gabbard represented the Leeward Coast on the City Council and worked with a network of religious conservatives across the state during his unsuccessful campaign against Case in 2004.

Although Hogue said it was too early to discuss specific issues for a campaign, he said he would likely focus on public education, the environment and sustaining the state's strong economy if he were to run.

In the Democratic primary, former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, state Sen. Ron Menor, state Sen. Gary Hooser and state Rep. Brian Schatz have said they are running. Former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga, state Rep. Roy Takumi and former Honolulu City Councilmember Duke Bainum have said they are considering the race. The filing deadline is July 25.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.