Rep. Mark Takai of Hawaii is dead at 49

(Image credit: AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

last updated 21 July 2016

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai (D-Hawaii) died Wednesday, a year and a half into his first term and nine months after he announced he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was cleared for re-election in February, but said in May that the cancer had spread and he would not seek a second term. Before serving in the U.S. House, Takai served in Iraq as a member of the Hawaii National Guard, and was a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives for 20 years before being elected to the U.S. House. He is survived by his wife, Sami Takai, and children Matthew and Kaila. Hillary Clinton remembered Takai in a statement:

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.