Hawaii's state primary is here: These are the races to watch.
Hawaii residents are set to wrap up voting on Saturday, with congressional and legislative races shaping the political landscape for November’s general elections.
The Aloha State’s primaries for the U.S. Senate and House are expected to provide solid wins for Democrats later this year, as both sides of the political aisle aim to win both chambers in January.
Hawaii’s Office of Elections also released a complete list of local races that voters will be selecting no later than Aug. 10:
Four members to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;
One Mayor, one Prosecuting Attorney, and nine Councilmembers for the County of Hawaii;
Nine Councilmembers for the County of Maui;
One Prosecuting Attorney and seven Councilmembers for the County of Kauai; and
One Mayor, one Prosecuting Attorney, and five Councilmembers for the City and County of Honolulu.
U.S. Senate race
The U.S. Senate race is at the top of the ballot, and incumbent Democrat Mazie Hirono is expected to quickly secure her party’s nomination. Hirono’s challengers are retired engineer Ron Curtis and salesman Clyde Lewman. Neither of them has reported significant campaign activity. Hirono has a substantial advantage, with $2.3 million in her campaign account as of mid-July.
On the Republican side, a six-way primary will determine Hirono’s opponent in November. Top candidates include Army veteran Adriel Lam and former state Rep. Bob McDermott, though both have reported modest fundraising efforts.
More: Hawaii's state primary is Aug. 10. Here are tips for what's on the ballot
U.S. House races:
In the 2nd Congressional District, first-term Democratic Rep. Jill Tokuda is running unopposed in her primary. Tokuda will advance to the general election without competition. On the Republican side, Steve Bond is also unopposed for his party’s nomination.
In the 1st Congressional District, Democrat Representative Ed Case is predicted to win easily in his primary as he aims for a sixth full term. Case is being challenged by Cecil Hale, who has not reported any campaign finance activity. Patrick Largey is running unopposed on the Republican side.
State House Races
About half of the state’s 25 state Senate seats and all 51 state House seats are up for election this year, according to the Associated Press. In a predictable blue state, the Democrats have supermajorities in both chambers.
House Speaker Scott Saiki faces a rematch in the 25th District against former state Board of Education member Kim Coco Iwamoto in one of the most closely watched state legislative races.
Iwamoto, viewed as being much more progressive, nearly unseated Saiki in the 2022 primary, losing by just 161 votes. This year’s rematch could impact House leadership, especially in a district with many new residents.
In the 36th District, state Rep. Trish La Chica is up against political newcomer Ken Inouye, son of the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. La Chica has focused on education as vice chair of the state House Education Committee, while Inouye has been connecting with voters on issues like the cost of living and the future of Hawaii’s younger generation.
Voters in Hawaii’s 1st House District will encounter an unusual situation in the upcoming state primary: Rep. Mark Nakashima, who passed away on July 11, will still appear on the ballot.
Following the election, Gov. Josh Green will appoint a successor from a list of three candidates provided by the Democratic Party.
What to Expect on Primary Day
Hawaii’s state primaries will conclude Saturday, with polls closing at 7 p.m. local time (1 a.m. EDT Sunday). Registered voters can participate in any party’s primary, and results are expected to be announced later that evening.
Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hawaii state primary: These are the key races to watch