Gene Ward
Gene Ward (Republican Party) was a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives, representing District 18. He assumed office on November 8, 2022. He left office on March 31, 2025.
Ward (Republican Party) won re-election to the Hawaii House of Representatives to represent District 18 outright in the Republican primary on August 10, 2024, after the general election was canceled.
Ward died on April 4, 2025.[1]
Biography
Gene Ward earned a Ph.D. in economic sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1982.[2] Ward's career experience includes working as a senior democracy advisor with the USAID Office of Democracy and Governance, a country director with the Peace Corps, and an adjunct professor with Chaminade University of Honolulu and Hawaii Pacific University. He co-founded the Hawaii Entrepreneurship Training and Development Institute.[3]
Ward was elected to a four-year term as the Republican Party of Hawaii's national committeeman to the Republican National Committee on May 21, 2016.[4]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Ward was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Ward was assigned to the following committees:
- Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee
- House Committee on Public Safety
- Culture & Arts Committee
- Government Reform Committee (decommissioned)
- Human Services & Homelessness Committee
2019-2020
Ward was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Finance |
| • Intrastate |
| • Tourism |
| • Veterans, Military, International Affairs, Culture and the Arts |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ward served on the following committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Economic Development & Business |
| • Finance |
| • Tourism |
| • Veterans, Military, International Affairs, Culture and the Arts |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ward served on the following committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Economic Development & Business, Vice Chair |
| • Finance |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ward served on these committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Finance |
| • Hawaiian Affairs |
| • International Affairs |
| • Legislative Management |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Ward served on these committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Economic Revitalization, Business & Military Affairs |
| • Finance |
| • Hawaiian Affairs |
| • Human Services |
Issues
Threat of school district closing
In December 2010, Ward announced that Hawaii Kai Public Schools, which includes Koko Head Elementary and Kamiloiki Schools, are under serious threat of closure by the Department of Education and the Board of Education. He is strongly against the closing of these schools.[5]
Presidential preference
2012
Gene Ward endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.[6]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2024
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 18
Incumbent Gene Ward won election outright in the Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 18 on August 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gene Ward | 100.0 | 1,609 |
| Total votes: 1,609 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ward in this election.
2022
See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2022
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 18
Incumbent Gene Ward won election outright in the Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 18 on August 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gene Ward | 100.0 | 2,030 |
| Total votes: 2,030 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17
Incumbent Gene Ward defeated Keith Kogachi in the general election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gene Ward (R) | 64.8 | 9,284 |
 | Keith Kogachi (D) | 35.2 | 5,054 | |
| Total votes: 14,338 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17
Keith Kogachi advanced from the Democratic primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Keith Kogachi | 100.0 | 4,089 |
| Total votes: 4,089 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17
Incumbent Gene Ward advanced from the Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gene Ward | 100.0 | 2,921 |
| Total votes: 2,921 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2018
General election
General election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17
Incumbent Gene Ward defeated Alan Yim in the general election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 on November 6, 2018.
| Total votes: 9,927 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17
Incumbent Gene Ward advanced from the Republican primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 on August 11, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gene Ward | 100.0 | 973 |
| Total votes: 973 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17
Alan Yim advanced from the Libertarian primary for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 on August 11, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Alan Yim | 100.0 | 7 |
| Total votes: 7 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Hawaii House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.
Incumbent Gene Ward defeated Karlen Ross in the Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 general election.[7]
| Hawaii House of Representatives, District 17 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Gene Ward Incumbent |
74.29% | 8,260 | |
| Democratic | Karlen Ross | 25.71% | 2,858 | |
| Total Votes | 11,118 | |||
| Source: State of Hawaii - Office of Elections | ||||
Karlen Ross ran unopposed in the Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 Democratic primary.[8][9]
| Hawaii House of Representatives, District 17 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Karlen Ross (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Gene Ward ran unopposed in the Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 Republican primary.[8][9]
| Hawaii House of Representatives, District 17 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Gene Ward Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Hawaii House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Chris Stump was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Gene Ward was unopposed in the Republican primary. Ward defeated Stump in the general election.[10][11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gene Ward Incumbent |
74.7% | 7,533 | |
| Democratic | Chris Stump | 25.3% | 2,555 | |
| Total Votes | 10,088 | |||
2012
Ward won re-election in the 2012 election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 17. Ward ran unopposed in the August 11 Republican primary and ran unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[13][14]
2010
Ward ran for re-election to the 17th District seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition on September 18, 2010. Ward was unopposed in the general election on November 2, 2010.[15]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Ward won re-election to the Hawaii House of Representatives from Hawaii's 17th District, defeating Amy Monk (D). Ward received 6,979 votes in the election while Monk received 5,234 votes.[16] Ward raised $86,422 for his campaign; Monk raised $53,824.[17]
| Hawaii House of Representatives, District 17 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Gene Ward (R)
|
6,979 | 55.3% | ||
| Amy Monk (D) | 5,234 | 41.5% | ||
| Blank | 399 | 3.2% | ||
| Over | 5 | 0.0% | ||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gene Ward did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Gene Ward did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Gene Ward did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Hawaii scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
In 2024, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 17 to May 3.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 18 to May 4. |
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 19 to May 5. |
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 20 to April 29.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 15 to July 10.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 16 through May 2.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 17 through May 3.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 18 through May 4. The Legislature held a special session from July 12 from July 20. The legislature held its first special session from August 28 to September 1. The legislature held its second special session from September 25 to September 26. The legislature held its third special session on November 14.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 20 through May 5. The Legislature held a special session from July 12 from July 20.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 21 through May 7.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 15 through May 2.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 16 to May 3.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ward is a member of the TransPacific Hawaii College Advisory Board, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Association, Rotary International, STEM Task Force, Hawaii Broad Band Task Force and Micronesia Compact of Free Association Task Force.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Civil Beat, "Hawaiʻi State Rep. Gene Ward Dies At 82," April 4, 2025
- ↑ Facebook, "Gene Ward," accessed September 5, 2022
- ↑ Rep. Gene Ward, "About," accessed September 5, 2022
- ↑ Facebook, "Republican Party of Hawaii," accessed May 25, 2016
- ↑ Hawaii Reporter, "Rep. Ward: Hawaii Kai Public Schools Under Serious Threat of Closure," December 12, 2010
- ↑ PoliticalNews.me, "Mitt Romney Announces Support of Hawaii House Minority Leader Gene Ward," March 13, 2004
- ↑ State of Hawaii, "General Election 2016 - State of Hawaii – Statewide November 8, 2016," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 State of Hawaii, "2016 Candidate Report," accessed June 10, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Hawaii.gov, "Primary Election results," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed June 6, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed August 25, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 12, 2014
- ↑ civilbeat.com, " Unofficial 2012 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed December 13, 2013
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General election results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Follow The Money, "Campaign funds," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Paychecks Hawaii, "PAYCHECKS HAWAII Ratings of the 2013 Hawaii State Legislature," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Paychecks Hawaii, "PAYCHECKS HAWAII Ratings of the 2013 Hawaii State Legislature," accessed July 11, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mark Hashem (D) |
Hawaii House of Representatives District 18 2022-2025 |
Succeeded by Joe Gedeon (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Hawaii House of Representatives District 17 2006-2022 |
Succeeded by Dee Morikawa (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Hawaii House of Representatives 1990-1998 |
Succeeded by - |
