Hawaii Legislature: Republicans Are Gaining Seats Even In The Aloha State
Democrats are expected to easily retain large majorities in the state House and Senate, but some races were close after the first batch of votes was released Wednesday.
Editor鈥檚 note: Honolulu County results have been updated in this story as of 7:29 p.m. Wednesday.
The Republican Party took back the presidency and the U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s election, and in Hawaii, the local GOP appeared to be improving its numbers in the Democrat-dominated Legislature.
Republicans are set to net two seats in the House, improving their numbers to eight. Meanwhile, Samantha DeCorte is winning in the Waianae Coast’s Senate District 22. She’ll be the third Republican in the Senate, the first time that chamber has had that many minority members since the early 2000s.
The outcome of those races are unlikely to change the leadership structure in either the House or Senate, where legislators from Kauai are anticipated to take control of both chambers.
Sen. Ron Kouchi will likely remain as Senate president.
House Majority Leader Nadine Nakamura of Kauai, who led Republican David Moranz 64.7% to 26.2%, is the likely candidate to replace Scott Saiki as speaker. The reorganization was triggered when Saiki lost his primary race to fellow Democrat Kim Coco Iwamoto.
The speakership is expected to be addressed by House Democrats in the coming days, although a new speaker won’t be formally voted in until the 2025 legislative session begins in mid-January.
Pierick Losing House Seat, But GOP Seeing Gains
GOP Rep. Elijah Pierick had taken a 20-vote lead over Democrat Corey Rosenlee when the elections office released more results late Wednesday. Rosenlee had been leading in the race for District 39 that represents parts of Kunia, Kapolei, Waipahu and West Loch. But late Wednesday, Pierick had 47.1% while Rosenlee had 46.9% — 4,706 votes for Pierick to 4,686 for Rosenlee.
In House District 41, Republican Rep. David Alcos, who was fined $12,500 by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission in September for failing to disclose financial information, led his opponent, Jonathan Clarke III, 55.9% to 39.2% in the race to represent parts of Ewa.
Republicans are prevailing in other races, based on results released Wednesday morning.
In House District 32, Republican challenger Garner Shimizu was leading incumbent Democrat Micah Aiu 47.5% to 46.7%.
It appeared Republicans might capture an open seat in Waianae. GOP candidate Chris Muraoka led Democrat newcomer Desire DeSoto 48.4% to 45.2% in the race for House District 45. DeSoto led in early returns but Muraoka overtook her lead as of Wednesday morning.
Republicans are also flipping a district in Ewa Beach.
District 40 (Portions of Lower Village and Ewa Beach, Iroquois Point) has a rare three-way race, with Republican challenger Julie Reyes Oda enjoying a slight lead over Democratic incumbent Rose Martinez and We The People candidate Christian Ulufanua. Oda had 49.4%, Martinez 44.0% and Ulufanua 2.9%.
In District 42 (portions of Varona Village, Ewa, and Kapolei, Fernandez Village), GOP Rep. Diamond Garcia was fending off a challenge from Democrat Anthony Makana Paris. Garcia had 54.4% of the vote compared to 41.3% for Paris.
Rep. Lauren Matsumoto was easily beating first-time political candidate Alexander Ozawa, 68.7% to 26.7%, in the race to represent Mililani, Waipio Acres and Mililani Mauka (District 38).
Republicans Might Win A Senate Seat
In the Senate, North Shore GOP Sen. Brenton Awa led challenger Ben Shafer 50.3% to 45.1%. Awa is one of two Republicans in the 25-member Senate.
On the Waianae Coast, DeCorte had a significant lead over Cedric Gates in the race for Senate District 22. DeCorte had 53.1% of votes to Gates’ 44.3%.
Here’s how other legislative races across the state were shaping up, starting with the Senate, where Democratic incumbents were faring well.
On the Big Island, in Senate District 3 (Kona, Kau, Volcano), Democratic incumbent Dru Kanuha was ahead of Republican challenger Kurt Sullivan 63.1% to 30.2%.
On Maui, Democratic Sen. Angus McKelvey of Lahaina representing Maui鈥檚 District 6 (West Maui, Maalaea, Waikapu, South Maui), was also on his way to retaining his seat. He had 57.3% of the votes against his Republican opponent, Sheila Walker, who had 34.3%.
Other House Races
In the House, election results also heavily favored incumbents and other Democrats hoping to gain office.
In House District 20 (Leahi, Kahala, Waialae, Kaimuki, Kapahulu), Democrat Tina Grandinetti was up 63.2% to 28.1% over Republican Corinne Solomon for the open seat.
On the Windward side, in District 48 (Kaneohe, Ahuimanu, Kahaluu, Waiahole, Kaaawa), Democratic Rep. Lisa Kitagawa was besting Green Party challenger Koda Daily 70.9% to 14.8%.
And nearby District 50 (Kailua, portion of Kaneohe Bay) had Democrat Mike Lee, who defeated incumbent Rep. Natalia Hussey-Burdick in the primary election, ahead of Republican Timothy Connelly 66.6% to 28.6%.
Click here to read more about contested legislative races in the full Hawaii 2024 .
