Former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou said Thursday that he is moving toward a bid for urban Honolulu’s 1st Congressional District.

The moderate Republican said politics has become "too slanted, too partisan" and that government at all levels has turned dysfunctional.

"I think Hawaii needs balanced representation in Washington, D.C.," Djou said.

Fifty-five percent of voters interviewed in a Hawaii Poll taken for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Hawaii News Now in February had a favorable impression of Djou. While Djou’s favorable rating was highest among Republicans at 74 percent 67 percent of independents and 47 percent of Democrats had positive opinions about the former congressman.

Djou would need support from independents and Democrats to compete for the open seat, which is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is running against U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Djou, an attorney, former Honolulu councilman and former state House lawmaker who serves in the U.S. Army Reserve, won a special election for Congress in May 2010 but was defeated by Hanabusa in the general election. He lost a rematch to Hanabusa in 2012.

State Senate President Donna Mercado Kim; state Rep. K. Mark Takai; state Sen. Will Espero; Honolulu City Councilmen Stanley Chang, Ikaika Anderson and Joey Manahan; and community activist Kathryn Xian are contending in the Democratic primary election.

Djou said he is seriously considering a campaign but has not made a final decision.

Republicans are favored to retain control of the U.S. House and have the potential to claim the U.S. Senate in midterm elections in November. All four in Hawaii’s congressional delegation are Democrats.

Former U.S. Rep. Pat Saiki, the new interim chairwoman of the Hawaii Republican Party, said, "I think we can get him elected. And it’s so important for him to be part of the majority of the Congress."

Dante Carpenter, chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, said Djou is an experienced candidate.

"He’s going to be out hustling, so I’m sure it’s going to be a scramble," he said.

Saiki, meanwhile, said Thursday that the state GOP has "to get back to basics" to have a truly competitive two-party system in a state that has been dominated by Democrats. Saiki said she would concentrate on voter registration, candidate recruitment and re-electing the minority party’s lawmakers in the Legislature. She said the party will focus less on issues and more on candidates.

"As far as issues are concerned, that’s up to the candidates. They can take positions on the issues according to their constituencies," Saiki said at a news conference at state GOP headquarters. "The Republican Party does not have to take one side or the other and pronounce what these candidates must stand for. That is not what I consider the mission of a party."

David Chang resigned as party chairman Wednesday to focus on military and business commitments. Saiki was chosen as interim chairwoman by the party’s executive committee and is expected to win the approval of the party’s state committee next week.