Hawaiʻi Legislature: Most Incumbents Won Easily

Several veteran Democratic legislators were challenged in this year’s primary, but election results suggest nearly all will keep their seats.

They include Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, who led challenger Nani Brown, an electrician, for the District 17 seat in Wahiawā 66.8% to 24.4%.

Dela Cruz won reelection outright, as there are no other rivals for his seat.

But another veteran state senator, Les Ihara, lost his District 10 seat representing Palolo, St. Louis Heights, Maunalani Heights and parts of Kaimukī.

Ihara has served for 40 years in the Legislature while Rep. Jackson Sayama was elected to the House in 2020 and is now moving to the Senate.

The final election day results released Sunday morning showed Sayama defeating Ihara 61.5% to 29.2%.

Check out statewide results here.

At least three seats appear too close to call and elections officials will be deciding on whether any races will go to a recount.

The closest contest as of Sunday's results was in House District 43 where incumbent GOP Rep. Kanani Souza, a vocal member of the House Good Government Caucus, was holding off Sheila Medeiros by just a single vote -- 45.7% to 45.6%. The winner takes the House seat outright to represent District 43 (Kapolei, Makakilo).

In another contested Republican primary, Sen. Kurt Fevella has 39.9% of the vote as compared to 40.1% for former Rep. Bob McDermott and 11% for former Rep. Rida Arakawa Cabanilla, who previously served as a Democrat. McDermott's margin over Fevella is just seven votes and seemed likely to lead to a recount.

The winner of the District 20 seat representing ʻEwa Beach will face Democrat Markus Owens in November.

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Ikaika Hussey led John Mizuno, who previously held the seat, by 33 votes. Hussey had 47.5% to 46.4% for Mizuno.

Depending on the final results, the race for District 29 (Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley) could trigger an automatic recount.

In other races featuring notable challenges to longtime lawmakers, Sen. Donna Kim beat opponent Christy MacPherson, a community activist, 50.8% to 39.5% for the District 14 seat that includes Kalihi, Alewa and Moanalua Gardens.

Kim was reelected outright, as there are no other competitors in that contest.

Meanwhile, another experienced legislator, Rep. Mark Hashem, prevailed over Kahi Pacarro, an environmental activist, 52.1% to 39.5%. Hashem represents District 19 (Waiʻalae-Kahala, ‘Āina Haina, Niu Valley, Kuliʻouʻou).

All told, 15 of the 25 Senate seats are on the ballot this year while all 51 House seats are up.

Open Seats

The retirement of several legislators opened up a couple of races that attracted wide fields. That means there will be some new faces when the Legislature convenes beginning in January.

In the Democratic primary for District 13, where longtime Sen. Karl Rhoads is stepping down, Tricia Nakamatsu won with 48.3% of the vote and is followed by Jordan Nakamura (21.7%) , Lei Ahu Isa (13.6%), James Logue (5.9%) and Lynn Vasquez (2.6%).

She will face Republican Wallyn Kanoelani Christian in the general election. District 13 includes Chinatown, Nuʻuanu, Pacific Heights, Liliha and downtown Honolulu.

The retirement of another veteran lawmaker, Rep. Della Au Belatti (she is running for lieutenant governor), opened up her District 26 seat that represents Makiki and Punchbowl.

In the Democratic primary, Ian Ross was the victor in a field of four with 39%. Trailing Ross were Nathan Kenichi Char (29.2%), Janel Fujinaka (14.4%) and Arjuna Heim (8.1%).

In the Republican primary for that same seat, Tony Silva is ahead of Robyn McCreary 46% to 40.1%.

With Jackson Sayama leaving the House, his District 21 seat has five Democrats vied for the chance to succeed him. Derek Turbin came out on top with 41.9% over Jake Takaya Morrow (21.6%), Andrew Phomsouvanh (21.2%), Angie Knight (5.5%) and Ranell Asuega-Fualaau (2.7%).

With no GOP opponent, the winner of District 21 (St. Louis Heights, Pālolo Valley, Maunalani Heights, Wilhelmina Rise, Kaimukī) will be the next House member.

In District 28 (Sand Island, Iwilei, Chinatown), Michael (Cov) Ratcliffe was appointed earlier this year to replace Daniel Holt, who resigned to take a job with a state agency. Four other Democrats are running against Ratcliffe to serve for the next two years.

Ratcliffe came in first with 27.1% followed by Nadia Alves (23.9%), Tony Nagatani (21.2%), Reno Abihai (9.3%) and Ernest Caravalho (7.5%).

Other Races

The District 14 seat representing Lahaina, District 14, Kahana and neighboring areas had Rep. Elle Cochran with 63.7% of the vote in the GOP primary. Because she’s unopposed, that means she will be on the general election ballot.

But because Cochran left the Democratic Party earlier this year, three Democrats jumped into the race to replace her. Sne Patel led at 31.5% followed by Ashley Olson (29.4%) and Kanamu Balinbin (23%) — yet another close race.

In the Green Party primary, Pa‘ele Kiakona is unopposed and will also advance to the general.

Other office holders holding leads after the first results were released were Sen. Chris Lee, a Democrat who faces no opponent in the general election, and Big Island Democrat Rep. Nicole Lowen.

Another Big Island Democratic representative, Chris Todd, defeated opponent Kuulei (Kiana) Keawekane 60.7% to 31.9% but will face Libertarian Austin Martin in the general election.

The same goes for Democratic incumbent Jeanne Kapela, who held off challenger Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder, a Hawaiʻi County Council member, 63.8% to 28%. The winner of that contest will be up against Republican Dalene McCormick in the fall.

Meanwhile, several Democratic Party legislators won reelection outright Saturday because they are unopposed in November.

They include House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and Senate President Ron Kouchi, both from Kauaʻi; Oʻahu Sens. Carol Fukunaga, Mike Gabbard and Glenn Wakai and Oʻahu Reps. Kim Coco Iwamoto, Sam Kong, Cory Chun and Andrew Takuya Garrett.

On the Republican side, Oʻahu Reps. Lauren Matsumoto and David Alcos are unopposed and so won reelection.

Democrats control the Legislature, with 41 members in the 51-member House and 21 members in the 25-member Senate. Sen. Michelle Kidani, a Democrat, retired June 30.

A temporary replacement for Kidani of Mililani Town, who stepped down June 30, is expected to be named by Gov. Josh Green as early as Sunday.

Democrats, Republicans, Greens and Libertarians will each select a candidate to appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot for Kidani’s District 18 seat, as well as a nonpartisan candidate chosen by lottery.