Updated
Updated · Hawaii News Now · Aug 9
24 Hawaiʻi Candidates Clinch Office Unopposed on Primary Night, Including 5 Senators
Updated
Updated · Hawaii News Now · Aug 9

24 Hawaiʻi Candidates Clinch Office Unopposed on Primary Night, Including 5 Senators

3 articles · Updated · Hawaii News Now · Aug 9

Summary

  • Twenty-four Hawaiʻi candidates locked up public office on primary election night because no rivals filed against them for either the primary or November general election.
  • Five state senators, 13 state representatives and six county council members were automatically elected, with Democrats taking all five Senate seats and 11 of the 13 House seats.
  • The Senate winners were all Democrats from Maui, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, while the House list included two Republicans — Lauren Cheape Matsumoto in District 38 and David A. Alcos III in District 41.
  • Several other legislative races skipped primary competition but remain undecided until November, including Senate District 9 and 15 State House contests with Democratic, Republican and one Green candidate on the ballot.

Insights

When two dozen politicians secure their seats without a single opponent, who really holds the ultimate power in local government?
How will automatically elected officials handle controversial zoning laws when they no longer need to face voters at the ballot box?