GOP wins House seat in Obama's Hawaii home district

Djou's victory was a blow to Obama and other Democrats who could not rally around a candidate and find away to win a congressional race that should have been a cakewalk. The seat had been held by a Democrat for nearly 20 years and is located where Obama was born and spent most of his childhood.

"This is a momentous day. We have sent a message to the United States Congress. We have sent a message to the national Democrats. We have sent a message to the machine," Djou said. "The congressional seat is not owned by one political party. This congressional seat is owned by the people."

But Democrats believe the success in Hawaii will be short-lived. Djou will only serve through the remainder of 2010, and another election will be held in November for the next term.

Djou received 67,610 votes, or 39.4%. He was trailed by state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, a Democrat who received 52,802 votes, or 30.8%. The other leading Democrat, former U.S. Rep. Ed Case, received 47,391 votes, or 27.6%.

Republicans see the victory as a powerful statement about their momentum heading into November.