HONOLULU — Hawaii voters went to the polls Saturday to select nominees for key fall races, with incumbent Gov. Josh Green overwhelmingly favored in the Democratic primary and competitive Republican campaigns offering the party a shot at reclaiming the governor’s office for the first time in nearly two decades.
Governor’s race: a lopsided Democratic primary
Green, first elected in 2022, entered the primary as the clear frontrunner. He outpaced his Democratic opponents on fundraising and name recognition, leaving little doubt among observers that he will advance to the general election.
His challengers — among them George “Teva” Lucas-Tadeo and Lauren Kapoliahiʻiaka Shim — ran low-profile bids. According to reporting on campaign finance through June 30, Green has collected substantially more resources than those opponents, positioning him for a dominant primary showing.
“open a government-run grocery store and legalize recreational marijuana”
The more unconventional proposals came from candidates such as Lucas-Tadeo, who drew attention on social media for policy ideas including a publicly run grocery option and marijuana legalization.
Republicans see an opening
On the Republican side, two candidates surged as potential challengers in November: Gary Cordery, a business owner, and Ken Fujiyama, an entrepreneur and investor. Their bids aim to end nearly 20 years of Democratic control of the governor’s office; the last Republican to serve as governor was Linda Lingle, who left office in 2010.
Fundraising reported through late June showed a wide gap between parties’ top fundraisers:
| Candidate | Party | Reported fundraising (through June 30) |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Green | Democrat | $3.5 million |
| Gary Cordery | Republican | $313,000 |
Congressional primary draws attention
Voters also weighed a high-profile Democratic primary in Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District. Progressive challengers are attempting to unseat sitting Democrats in several contests, reflecting intraparty debates over policy direction and priorities.
- Primary day decisions will determine the November slate for governor, the 1st Congressional District and other state and local offices.
- Fundraising advantages gave incumbents a clear edge heading into the vote.
- Republicans are focusing resources on the governor’s race as a potential pickup opportunity.
The outcomes will shape Hawaii’s political landscape through the next term: a re-elected Green would continue the current Democratic administration’s policies, while a Republican victory in November would mark a major partisan shift for the governor’s mansion. Results from the primary were expected to clarify the matchups voters will face in November and to signal the strength of challengers on both sides.
Reporting on campaign finance and candidate platforms informed this account; final vote totals from the primary will provide the definitive picture of who advances to the general election.
Leilani Akana is a correspondent for News Block covering Hawaii politics.
