Only One Incumbent Loses Legislative Seat
Only one incumbent lost his legislative seat Saturday, suggesting the imbalance of power between the dominant Democrats and minority Republicans is unlikely to change significantly come Nov. 2.
Two races — a House seat on the Big Island and a Senate seat in windward Oahu — were very close after the final results, and could still change.
No matter what the outcome, there will be some new faces when the 2011 session begins in January because some incumbents stepped down.
But there well be many familiar veteran legislators, too: Democrat Sen. Carol Fukunaga and Republican Reps. Barbara Marumoto, Cynthia Thielen and Gene Ward were re-elected outright in the primary because they face no challenger in the general election.
Civil Beat looks at the races that mattered most.
House District 33
State Rep. Blake Oshiro fended off a challenge from fellow Democrat and term-limited Honolulu City Councilman Gary Okino.
Oshiro won 54 percent to 42 percent in the district that represents Aiea, Halawa Valley, Halawa Heights and Aiea Heights. He will face Republican Sam Kong in the general election.
Okino, a Christian candidate, used religion as a political issue in the race against Oshiro, who is gay and was the chief sponsor of legislation on Hawaii civil unions. Oshiro is the .
The Democratic Party of Hawaii is , censoring or reprimanding Okino for his support of Republican candidates this election year.
Senate District 22
In the hotly contested race to replace Bobby Bunda in the state Senate, term-limited Honolulu City Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz bested state Rep. Mike Magaoay and two other Democrats.
Dela Cruz, who will face Republican Charles “Bo” Aki in the general election, received 38 percent of the vote to Magaoay’s 24 percent.
District 22 represents Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Haleiwa, Mokuleia and the North Shore. Dela Cruz entered the race after withdrawing his candidacy for Honolulu mayor this summer, citing fundraising difficulties.
Laura Figueira, a former aide to Bunda, on Sept. 7 was appointed by Gov. Linda Lingle to serve on a temporary basis until the general election. Bunda resigned in July to run for lieutenant governor.
House District 16
The only upset of the evening was Rep. Roland Sagum’s loss to fellow Democrat Daynette (Dee) Morikawa. Morikawa, who won 55 to 38 percent, will face Republican Phil Sterker in the general for the seat that represents Lehua, Koloa and Waimeaa on Kauai, and Niihau.
Senate District 7
Ron Kouchi, who served for 22 years as a Kauai County Councilman, prevailed over Democrat John Sydney Yamane 55 to 33 percent. He now faces Republican David Hamman and nonpartisan candidate Alfred Darling in the general.
Kouchi currently occupies the Kauai–Niihau seat on a temporary basis thanks to a Sept. 7 appointment by the governor to replace Gary Hooser, who resigned in July to run for lieutenant governor.
Senate District 19
State Sen. Mike Gabbard held back challenger Mike Golojuch Sr. in the district that represents Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale and portions of Waipahu and Ko Olina.
The race was significant in that it pitted Gabbard, an outspoken critic of gay rights, against Golojuch, a co-founder of the Hawaii chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. In the end, however, the vote wasn’t close: 70 to 22 percent.
Gabbard, a Republican turned Democrat, now competes against Republican Aaron Roa Bonar in the general.
Too Close To Call?
The open primary race to take Republican Fred Hemming‘s longtime Senate District 25 seat was won Virginia Enos, who beat Joe “Joebuilder” Pandolfe in the Republican primary.
The race between the Democratic candidates appeared to be won by Pohai Ryan, who had 30 percent compared with Chuck Prentiss (26 percent) and Andrew Jamila (25 percent).
Meanwhile, Democrat incumbent Faye Hanohano in House District 4 had 47 percent of the vote to Tony Marzi’s 45 percent — a difference of barely 100 votes.
The legislative competition now turns to the general election, where the local GOP has managed to field candidates in most races. But it will be difficult for Republicans to unseat entrenched Democrats with name recognition and healthy campaign coffers.
