Hawaii voters selected their nominees for governor and state legislature this weekend. As a deep-blue stronghold, the state's Democratic primary effectively doubles as the general election for statewide office and in many legislative districts.
Governor
Incumbent Governor Josh Green (D) faced three challengers in the Democratic primary but easily coasted to the general election with 88% of the vote, making him one step closer to securing his second term in office. Green is a former physician and ER doctor. His political career began in 2004, serving in the Hawaii House from 2004 to 2008 and later the senate from 2008 to 2018. He was elected lieutenant governor in 2018, serving alongside Governor David Ige (D). Green’s second term priorities include expanding access to affordable housing, addressing chronic homelessness, lowering the costs of healthcare, and investing in clean energy.
Two Republicans, entrepreneur Ken Fujiyama and business owner Gary Cordery, competed for the party’s nomination to challenge Green in the general election. Cordery handily secured the party’s nomination with 76% of the vote. Cordery is a builder and contactor on O’ahu, with his campaign centering on the notion that he is not a career politician. His campaign priorities include lowering the costs of living, expanding affordable housing, restoring government transparency, and strengthening education.
The general election race is rated highly in Green’s favor with the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball labeling this race as Solid Democrat.
State Legislature
Thirteen (13) out of 25 senate seats and all 51 house seats are up for election. Longtime Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Karl Rhoads (D) is the sole incumbent not seeking reelection this campaign cycle. A total of three house incumbents did not file for reelection including former House Majority Leader Della Au Belatti (D), who ran for lieutenant governor. Democrats are expected to maintain a supermajority in both chambers.
The senate's longest serving member, Senator and Majority Policy Leader Les Ihara Jr. (D) has lost his primary to Representative Jackson Sayama (D) who opted not run for reelection in the lower body in order to challenge Ihara.
Three races, all with incumbents (Representative Ikaika Hussey (D), Representative Kanani Souza (R), and Senator Kurt Fevella (R)), remain uncalled and could go to an automatic recount which is triggered in Hawaii if the difference between candidates in equal to or less than 100 votes, or one-half of one percent of the total votes cast for the contest, whichever is fewer.