Hawaiʻi voter guide: Here's what to know about the 2022 election
In the 2022 midterm election, Hawaiʻi residents will vote on the next governor and lieutenant governor, and all state legislators.
Hawaiʻi is one of the nation’s most reliably blue states, with Democrats dominating federal and statewide elected offices. Joe Biden won 63% of the vote in 2020, while 34% cast ballots for Donald Trump.
The top race is the gubernatorial contest featuring Republican former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona and Lt. Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat. Aiona served as second-in-command under Hawaiʻi’s last Republican governor from 2002 to 2010 but has run unsuccessfully for governor twice since.
Meanwhile, state House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke or Seaula Tupaʻi Jr. would become the lieutenant governor under Green or Aiona, respectively.
On the federal level, Hawaiʻi has one open seat in the U.S. House because incumbent Rep. Kai Kahele decided to run for governor, losing to Green in the Democratic primary. Jill Tokuda and Joe Akana are running to represent that district, which covers the neighbor islands and much of non-urban Oʻahu.
All of Hawaiʻi’s congressional seats are expected to be safe for the incumbents, who are Democrats. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Ed Case are running for reelection. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono's next election year is 2024.
The current mayors of Kauaʻi and Maui counties — Derek Kawakami and Mike Victorino, respectively — are running for reelection. Mayoral races for Oʻahu and the Big Island are scheduled for 2024.
Voters will choose their representatives for the Hawaiʻi County Council, Maui County Council, Kauaʻi County Council, and Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 of the Honolulu City Council. Ballots in each county will also include charter amendment proposals.
At the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, elections are being held for some trustee seats.
HPR's daily talk show The Conversation interviewed general election candidates for some county council districts, Maui County mayor, Kauaʻi County mayor, the U.S. House of Representatives, lieutenant governor, and governor:
Interviews:
Hawaiʻi County Council District 2: Matthias Kusch | Jenn Kagiwada
Hawaiʻi first lady (not an elected position): Vivian Aiona | Jaime Green
Maui County Council (Kahului): Buddy Nobriga | Tasha Kama (incumbent)
Kauaʻi County Mayor: Derek Kawakami (incumbent) | Michael Roven Poai
Maui County Mayor: Richard "Rick" Bissen | Michael "Mike" Victorino (incumbent)
U.S. House of Representatives - District 1: Ed Case (D) (incumbent) | Conrad Kress (R)
U.S. House of Representatives - District 2: Jill Tokuda (D) | Joe Akana (R)
Lieutenant Governor: Sylvia Luke (D) | Seaula Tupa'i Jr. (declined interview) (R)
Governor: Duke Aiona (R) | Josh Green (D)
Key dates to remember:
- Week of Oct. 17 - General election ballots start arriving in mailboxes.
- Tuesday, Oct. 25 - Voter service centers open for same-day registration and in-person voting.
- Monday, Oct. 31 - Final day for first-time voters to submit a paper registration application for the general election. Voters can still register online or in person at a voter service center.
- Tuesday, Nov. 8 - General election voting ends at 7 p.m.
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Voter resources and important links:
- Register to vote or check if you are registered. You can also call 808-453-VOTE or toll-free 800-442-VOTE from the neighbor islands.
- Track your ballot with BallotTrax
- Unsure which races you're voting in? Input your address to find out.
- Find a voter service center or ballot drop box
- Kauaʻi County Elections Division
- City and County of Honolulu Elections Division
- Maui County Elections Division
- Hawaiʻi County Elections Division
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Marco Garcia/APSenate Judiciary Committee Chair Karl Rhoads has introduced two bills that explore a new legal approach aimed at effectively barring corporations from donating to Hawaiʻi political campaigns at the local, state and federal levels. -
Cathy Bussewitz/APShirlene Ostrov with the Hawaiʻi Republican Party spoke to The Conversation's Catherine Cruz about Hawaiʻi Republicans, immigration, and her priorities as party chair.
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Prospective candidates must get a nomination paper and collect signatures from registered voters in the district they seek to represent. -
Yuki Lei Sugimura says she's running for Maui County mayor in this year's election, challenging incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen. -
Democratic Gov. Josh Green of Hawaiʻi predicts Americans will want a peacemaking leader by 2028. He says the “hand-to-hand combat” of partisan politics will struggle after President Donald Trump’s second term. -
Some members of Hawaiʻi’s Elections Commission are trying to ban mail-in voting, claiming that there were miscounted ballots in last year’s elections. But several organizations and state lawmakers say mail-in voting is here to stay. -
The state Campaign Spending Commission is working on a public funding bill this year to incentivize more candidates to request funding. -
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen has announced that he is running for reelection. Bissen's bid for a second term comes with a year left in his first, and initially tumultuous, term as mayor.
