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Hawaii
Governor
| HAWAII |
Nov. 8,
2022 Governor |
|
Plurality: 108,788 votes (26.32 percentage points) State
of Hawaii Office of Elections
Notes: Gov. David Ige (D) was term-limited. Lt. Gov. Dr. Josh Green (D) defeated former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona (R). Honolulu Civil Beat hosted "Know Your Candidate" ("a casual hour-long conversation") with Green and Aiona on Oct. 3 (>) and the two debated on KHON2 on Oct. 5 (>). August 13 Primaries A crowded field of candidates competed in the Aug. 13 primaries, comprising seven Democrats, 10 Republicans and two nonpartisan candidates. The leading Democratic candidates were Green, former Hawaii First Lady Vicky Cayetano, and U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele. Cayetano, who is founder, president and CEO of United Laundry Services Inc., and was first lady from 1997 to 2002, announced her candidacy on Aug. 30, 2021 (>). Prior to becoming lieutenant governor in 2018, Green, served as a state senator and state representative and worked as an family practice physician and emergency room doctor. He formally entered the race on Feb. 10, 2022, pledging to bring "trusted, caring leadership to Hawaii (>)." Former Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell waged a relatively short campaign, announcing on Mar. 22, 2022 but dropping out on May 4. Kahele is a freshman congressman, a Hawaiian airlines pilot and a native Hawaiian; he previously served in the Hawaii State Senate, where he succeeded his father. Kahele was a late entrant to the race; after much speculation he formally announced on May 7, and ran on the theme that "Hawaiʻi is not for sale (>)." The three major candidates participated in several debates: June 29 - virtual town hall on Honolulu Star-Advertiser's "Spotlight Hawaii" (>); July 12 - on KITV4 from the Hawai'i Convention Center (>); July 13 - on KHON2 from the Hawai'i Theatre in Honolulu (>); and July 21 - Hawaii News Now (HNN) Super Debate hosted by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement in Waikiki (>). Green comfortably won the primary with 62.9% of the 250,305 votes tallied to 20.8% for Cayetano and 15.0% for Kahele. In the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, state Rep. Sylvia Luke topped a field of six candidates with 36.2% of 241,392 votes tallied. Aiona, who served as lieutenant governor from 2002-10, was also the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2010 and 2014. Prior to being elected lieutenant governor, he worked as an attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, a family court judge and a circuit court judge. More recently he has worked as an attorney in private practice. Other top candidates were former MMA artist BJ Penn, businessman Gary Cordery, and Honolulu Councilwoman Heidi Haunani Tsuneyoshi. Aiona, Cordery and Tsuneyoshi debated on KITV4 from the Hawai'i Convention Center on July 12 [Penn did not participate due to a scheduling conflict] (>); and in a Hawaii News Now (HNN) Super Debate in Waikiki on July 21 (>). Aiona tallied 49.6% of the 75,408 votes tallied followed by Penn (26.1%), Cordery (10.9%), Tsuneyoshi (9.6%), and the rest of the field at about 1-percent or less. In the Republican primary for lieutenant governor Seaula Jr. Tupai, senior pastor at Overcoming Faith Center in Hilo, won 53.6% of the vote, defeating Rob Burns and Tae Kim. Campaign Managers Josh Green: Elizabeth Skillin (Feb. 2022) Owner of Mean Mango Integrated Marketing since Nov. 2013. Director of communications for the State of Hawaii, 2021-Jan. 2022. Online marketing for Aqua Hospitality, Aug. 2012-Nov. 2013. Marketing for Sodexo, Feb. 2009-Aug. 2012. B.A. in marketing / business from University of Hawaii West Oahu, 2012. Duke Aiona: ? See also: Hawai'i Public Radio. "Hawai'i voter guide: Here's what to know about the 2022 election." Hawai'i News Now. "Election 2022." Kevin Dayton. "Duke Aiona Is Running For Governor Again. Will This Time Be Any Different?" Honolulu Civil Beat, Sept. 26, 2022. Nick Grube. "Has US Rep. Kai Kahele Given Up On Washington." Honolulu Civil Beat, Apr. 11, 2022. |
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