 Her attorney suggested her actions may have been the result of a benign brain tumor.In February 2014, Hayashi announced her candidacy in the 2014 Democratic primary election for the California State Senate, in the 10th District.On June 3, 2014, Mary Hayashi placed third in the District 10 Blanket Primary, behind Democrat Bob Wieckowski and Republican Peter Kuo, with Wieckowski later defeating Kuo in the runoff election on November 4.