House Speaker Scott Saiki had 44.9% of the vote compared to 49.1% for Kim Coco Iwamoto in the House District 25 seat that represents Ala Moana, Kakaako and downtown Honolulu. But most incumbents have already secured reelection because they lacked primary and general election opponents.
Saiki, who has served in the state House since 1994 and has been speaker since May 2017, narrowly won races against Iwamoto, a small business owner, in the 2020 and 2022 primaries. Both are Democrats, and there is no other contender in the contest.
The first election results, released around 7:20 p.m., include all ballots received as of Friday, about 85% of the vote. Saiki trailed Iwamoto by about 200 votes.
Hawaii House candidate Kim Coco Iwamoto reacts to the first printout of the Democratic Party primary election at a coffee shop in Kakaako on Saturday. (Marco Garcia/Civil Beat/2024)
“I wasn’t just campaigning against him. I was campaigning against the entire Democratic establishment,” Iwamoto told Hawaii News Now.
Gov. Josh Green said his heart goes out to Saiki.
“It will be somewhat of a shock to the system at the Legislature if the speaker doesn’t prevail,” Green said.
In other closely watched legislative races, Democrat Clayton Hee is seeking to reclaim his Senate District 23 seat on Oahu. But Hee had 39.6% of the vote to 50.2% for his primary opponent, Ben Shafer. The winner will face Republican incumbent Brenton Awa, who is unopposed in the primary for the district that stretches from Mokuleia to Laie to Kaneohe.
The contest for the Big Island’s Senate District 1 (Hilo, Paukaa, Papaikou and Pepeekeo) features longtime incumbent Lorraine Inouye facing off against Laura Acasio, a former senator. Inouye had 58.2% of the vote to Acasio’s 33.8%. There is no Republican candidate.
Crowded Waianae, Kapahulu Races
Cedric Gates had a slight lead over Stacelynn Eli in the race for the Democratic nomination to represent the Waianae Coast in Senate District 22. Gates, who picked up an endorsement from the area’s former senator, Maile Shimabukuro, had 45.8% of the vote to Eli’s 43.6%.
Samantha DeCorte, who came within 40 votes of votes of beating Shimabukuro in 2022, had a big lead over her opponent in the Republican race for that same district. DeCorte had 63.7% to opponent Teri Kia Savaiinaea’s 17%.
The current senator representing that district, Cross Crabbe, is in the odd predicament of running for the District 45 House seat currently held by Gates. That’s because a legal deadline forced Gov. Josh Green to appoint Shimabukuro’s replacement just 10 days before the primary election.
Rather than hand either Gates or Eli a boost by appointing either of them to the vacancy, Green appointed Crabbe, who was not seeking the Senate seat. Crabbe is Gates’ office manager.
Rep. Scott Saiki was behind in early returns Saturday in House District 25. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)
Crabbe was behind West Side educator Desire DeSoto, 48.3% to 23.4% for the Democratic nomination to the Waianae House seat. They were trailed by Philip Ganaban (11.7%) and Ranson Soares (4.1%).
Businessman Michael Muraoka led the Republican race. He had 50.4% of the vote compared to his opponent Tiana Wilbur with 31.5%.
Tina Grandinetti led a field of five in the Democratic race for House District 20, which covers an area of East Honolulu including Kapahulu and parts of Kaimuki, Diamond Head and Kahala. Grandinetti had 39.8% of the vote. Others in the race are John Choi (20%), Kevan Wong (17.8%), James Logue (7.7%) and George Hooker (6%).
The winner will face Republican nominee Corinne Solomon in the general election.
Many Incumbents Automatically Reelected
All 51 House seats are up this year, but Democratic incumbents Justin Woodson, Mark Hashem, Della Au Belatti, Sam Kong, Rachel Lamosao and Darius Kila as well as longtime GOP incumbent Gene Ward faced no challengers and won their races outright.
There are 25 members in the state Senate. Thirteen of the seats are on the ballot in 2024, but four unopposed Democratic incumbents — Tim Richards, Troy Hashimoto, Henry Aquino and Jarrett Keohokaloloe — were effectively reelected Saturday, too.
Many other races were contested, however.
Rep. Sonny Ganaden had 40.4% of the vote compared with 42.9% for challenger Shirley Ann Labadan Templo in House District 30, which represents Kalihi, Kalihi Kai, Keehi Lagoon and Hickam Village.
In House District 29, May Mizuno was appointed last year to replace her husband, John Mizuno, who took a job in the Green administration. Mizuno had 35% of the vote while her Democratic opponent, Ikaika Hussey, had 56%. The winner will face Republican Carole Kaapu for the seat that represents Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley and a portion of Kalihi.
In House District 50 (Kailua and a portion of Kaneohe Bay), incumbent Natalia Hussey-Burdick trailed challenger Mike Lee 54.9% to 38.2%. The victor will run against GOP candidate Timothy Connelly in the Nov. 5 general election.
Former state Sen Clayton Hee was losing a bid to return to the Legislature this year. (Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat/2018)
In the open House District 23 (Moiliili and McCully), Ikaika Olds was leading a field of four candidates with 40.5% and Ian Ross was in second place with 31%. Pat McCain had 10.5% and Paul Robotti 1.4%. There is no Republican candidate so the victor in the primary will win the seat outright.
Democratic incumbent Trish La Chica had the lead over Ken Inouye, 50.8% to 40.2%, in the race for House District 37, which includes Mililani and Waipio Gentry. The winner will face Republican Taylor Kaaumoana in the general election.
And Democratic incumbent Amy Perruso had a huge lead over Mark Clemente in the District 46 race to represent a large swath of Oahu from Launani Valley to Mokuleia. Perusso had 57.7% of the vote to Clemente’s 31.6%. The winner will face Republican Daniel Gabriel, who was unopposed.
For a complete list of all Hawaii election results, including other state House and Senate races, click here.
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Publish date : 2024-08-10 19:31:00
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