Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Democratic Party primaries in Hawaii, 2022
 |
U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • Municipal • How to run for office |
 |
2024 →
← 2020
|
| Democratic Party primaries, 2022 |
 |
| Primary Date |
| August 13, 2022 |
| Federal elections |
| Democratic primaries for U.S. House |
| State party |
| Democratic Party of Hawaii |
| State political party revenue |
This page focuses on the Democratic primaries that took place in Hawaii on August 13, 2022.
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.
Hawaii utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[1][2]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Federal elections
U.S. Senate
The 2022 U.S. Senate elections in Hawaii took place on November 8, 2022. Voters elected one candidate to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Democratic primary candidates
- Brian E. Schatz (Incumbent) ✔
- Steve Tataii
U.S. House
District 1
Democratic primary candidates- Ed Case (Incumbent) ✔
- Sergio Alcubilla
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection surveyDistrict 2
Democratic primary candidates = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection surveyState elections
State Senate
- See also: Hawaii State Senate elections, 2022
Republican
House of Representatives
State executive offices
Seven state executive offices were up for election in Hawaii in 2022:
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (6 seats)
Governor
Democratic primary candidates = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection surveyLieutenant Governor
Democratic primary candidatesPrimary election competitiveness
This section contains information about the primary election competitiveness of election in Hawaii. For more information about this data, click here.
U.S. Senate competitiveness
U.S. House competitiveness
Post-filing deadline analysis
The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Hawaii in 2022. Information below was calculated on August 9, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.
Thirteen candidates filed to run for Hawaii's two U.S. House districts, including eight Democrats and five Republicans. That's 6.5 candidates per district, less than the 9.5 candidates per district in 2020 and the same number as in 2018.
This was the first election to take place under new district lines following the 2020 census. Hawaii was apportioned two districts, the same number it was apportioned after the 2010 census. The 13 candidates running this year were six fewer than the 19 candidates who ran in 2020 and the same number as in 2018. Twelve candidates ran in 2016 and 2014, and 13 ran in 2012.
Rep. Kaiali'i Kahele (D) did not run for re-election in order to run for governor of Hawaii, making the 2nd district an open seat this year. This was the sixth consecutive election cycle where one of Hawaii’s two U.S. House seats was open. Eight candidates — two Republicans and six Democrats — ran to replace Kahele, the most candidates who ran for a seat this year.
There were four contested primaries this year, the most since 2012. There were three contested primaries in every election cycle between 2014 and 2020. Democratic and Republican candidates filed to run in both districts, so no seats were guaranteed to either party this year.
State executive competitiveness
State legislative competitiveness
Post-filing deadline analysis
The following analysis covers all state legislative districts up for election in Hawaii in 2022. Information below was calculated on Aug. 9, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.
Hawaii held 51 contested primaries in 2022, 34% of the total number of possible primaries, and a 65% increase from 2020.
A primary is contested when more candidates files to run than there are nominations available, meaning at least one candidate must lose.
Of the 51 contested primaries, 36 were for Democrats and 15 were for Republicans. For Democrats, this was up from 29 in 2020, a 24% increase. For Republicans, the number increased 650% from two in 2020.
Twenty-five contested primaries featured an incumbent, representing 40% of all incumbents who filed for re-election. This was a higher rate of incumbents in contested primaries compared to 2020, but lower than rates in the 2018 and 2016 cycles.
All 25 incumbents in contested primaries were Democrats.
Overall, 205 major party candidates—126 Democrats and 79 Republicans—filed to run.
Context of the 2022 elections
Hawaii Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty-six years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
State party overview
Democratic Party of Hawaii
- See also: Democratic Party of Hawaii
State political party revenue
State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws.
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following map displays total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic state party affiliates.
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.
Hawaii utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[3][4]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
As of 2020, Hawaii is an all-mail voting state, which means that its elections are conducted almost exclusively by mail. There are voter service centers that are open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on election day, and with varying hours for ten business days prior to each election, to receive personal delivery of mail-in ballots, accommodate voters with special needs, offer same-day registration and voting, and provide other election services.
To find the locations and hours of voter service centers, see here.[5][6]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Hawaii, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years old. Pre-registration is available beginning at age 16.[7][8]
Registration can be completed in the following ways:[7]
Online: Visit olvr.hawaii.gov. You must have a current Hawaii Driver’s License or State ID to complete an application online.
Mail: Print & submit a completed Voter Registration Application to your Clerk’s Office. Paper application must be submitted to the county elections division by 4:30 PM on the tenth day before each election.
In-person: Visit the Office of Elections or a Clerk’s Office to submit an application in person.
Applications are available at any of the following locations: [7]
- County Elections Divisions
- Clerk’s Offices
- State Libraries
- U.S. Post Offices
- Most State Agencies
- Satellite City Halls
Same-day voter registration is available at voter service centers, to register and vote in-person, beginning 10 days prior and through election day. Paper registration applications must be submitted to county election divisions by 4:30 PM on the tenth day before each election. Once you are registered, you do not need to re-register for another election unless your residence address, mailing address, or name changes. Hawaii adopted same-day registration in 2014; implementation occurred in 2018.[7]
Automatic registration
Hawaii offers automatic voter registration for eligible individuals through the Department of Motor Vehicles when they complete a driver license or state ID application, and the Department of Health and Department of Human Services when applying to receive public assistance.
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Hawaii has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Hawaii allows same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Hawaii, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. The voter registration application includes the following language: "The residence stated in this affidavit is not simply because of my presence in the State, but was acquired with the intent to make Hawaii my legal residence with all the accompanying obligations therein."[8]
Verification of citizenship
Hawaii does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "any person who knowingly furnishes false information may be guilty of a Class C felony."[9]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[10] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
Hawaii's Online Voter Registration System, run by the Hawaii Office of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Voters in Hawaii are not generally required to present identification while voting. In 2019, the statute requiring voters to present identification if so requested by a precinct official was repealed.
When registering to vote for the first time, a Hawaii Driver License, Hawaii State ID, or the last 4-digits of the voter's Social Security Number is required. If none of these can be provided, one of the following must be provided as proof of identification:
- A current and valid photo identification; or
- A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.[8]
Early voting
Since it is an all-mail voting state, Hawaii permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Hawaii conducts its elections by mail. All eligible voters automatically receive mail ballots, which must be returned election officials by close of polls on Election Day.[5]
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
There are no Pivot Counties in Hawaii. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Hawaii with 62.2 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 30 percent. In presidential elections between 1960 and 2016, Hawaii voted Democratic 86.67 percent of the time and Republican 13.33 percent of the time. The only presidential elections from 1960 to 2016 where Hawaii voted for the Republican candidate were the elections in 1972 and 1984. Richard Nixon (R) and Ronald Reagan (R), respectively, won nearly every state in those elections.[11] Hawaii voted Democratic in every presidential election from 2000 to 2016.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Hawaii. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[12][13]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won all 51 state House districts in Hawaii with an average margin of victory of 42.9 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won all 51 state House districts in Hawaii with an average margin of victory of 31.7 points. Six of those districts were controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 78.86% | 18.99% | D+59.9 | 67.83% | 22.93% | D+44.9 | D |
| 2 | 81.90% | 16.56% | D+65.3 | 70.83% | 20.79% | D+50 | D |
| 3 | 78.94% | 18.86% | D+60.1 | 66.06% | 24.28% | D+41.8 | D |
| 4 | 74.69% | 20.89% | D+53.8 | 61.65% | 26.42% | D+35.2 | D |
| 5 | 70.37% | 27.44% | D+42.9 | 60.96% | 30.41% | D+30.5 | D |
| 6 | 63.87% | 34.13% | D+29.7 | 55.17% | 36.08% | D+19.1 | D |
| 7 | 70.15% | 27.80% | D+42.3 | 62.01% | 28.48% | D+33.5 | D |
| 8 | 77.15% | 21.48% | D+55.7 | 66.05% | 24.87% | D+41.2 | D |
| 9 | 82.40% | 16.67% | D+65.7 | 71.21% | 21.87% | D+49.3 | D |
| 10 | 66.49% | 31.34% | D+35.2 | 59.75% | 31.99% | D+27.8 | D |
| 11 | 65.21% | 32.49% | D+32.7 | 59.60% | 31.32% | D+28.3 | D |
| 12 | 73.87% | 23.66% | D+50.2 | 64.66% | 24.79% | D+39.9 | D |
| 13 | 78.96% | 18.21% | D+60.8 | 65.73% | 21.35% | D+44.4 | D |
| 14 | 72.91% | 23.66% | D+49.2 | 61.55% | 28.21% | D+33.3 | D |
| 15 | 73.72% | 24.41% | D+49.3 | 62.16% | 30.30% | D+31.9 | D |
| 16 | 73.80% | 24.28% | D+49.5 | 63.81% | 27.75% | D+36.1 | D |
| 17 | 64.14% | 34.73% | D+29.4 | 61.51% | 32.48% | D+29 | R |
| 18 | 64.74% | 34.13% | D+30.6 | 62.93% | 31.13% | D+31.8 | D |
| 19 | 68.62% | 30.02% | D+38.6 | 65.35% | 28.24% | D+37.1 | D |
| 20 | 74.85% | 23.28% | D+51.6 | 68.93% | 24.22% | D+44.7 | D |
| 21 | 75.85% | 22.20% | D+53.7 | 69.81% | 22.91% | D+46.9 | D |
| 22 | 63.65% | 33.95% | D+29.7 | 60.51% | 32.82% | D+27.7 | D |
| 23 | 74.44% | 23.74% | D+50.7 | 70.35% | 22.60% | D+47.8 | D |
| 24 | 72.02% | 26.06% | D+46 | 67.57% | 25.28% | D+42.3 | D |
| 25 | 72.41% | 25.81% | D+46.6 | 65.99% | 26.66% | D+39.3 | D |
| 26 | 69.71% | 28.67% | D+41 | 66.03% | 27.94% | D+38.1 | D |
| 27 | 73.79% | 24.89% | D+48.9 | 66.44% | 27.44% | D+39 | D |
| 28 | 75.18% | 23.76% | D+51.4 | 65.88% | 27.53% | D+38.3 | D |
| 29 | 72.71% | 25.65% | D+47.1 | 65.49% | 27.73% | D+37.8 | D |
| 30 | 74.18% | 25.14% | D+49 | 66.96% | 27.11% | D+39.8 | D |
| 31 | 67.31% | 31.63% | D+35.7 | 60.03% | 33.91% | D+26.1 | D |
| 32 | 71.52% | 27.25% | D+44.3 | 61.88% | 31.86% | D+30 | D |
| 33 | 71.14% | 28.00% | D+43.1 | 64.50% | 29.83% | D+34.7 | D |
| 34 | 73.09% | 25.92% | D+47.2 | 63.82% | 30.29% | D+33.5 | D |
| 35 | 71.64% | 27.28% | D+44.4 | 60.83% | 33.40% | D+27.4 | D |
| 36 | 65.58% | 33.62% | D+32 | 58.08% | 35.51% | D+22.6 | R |
| 37 | 68.17% | 30.78% | D+37.4 | 60.07% | 33.75% | D+26.3 | D |
| 38 | 75.65% | 23.90% | D+51.8 | 68.58% | 27.30% | D+41.3 | D |
| 39 | 66.08% | 33.05% | D+33 | 55.93% | 37.10% | D+18.8 | D |
| 40 | 63.55% | 35.44% | D+28.1 | 52.55% | 41.16% | D+11.4 | R |
| 41 | 64.77% | 34.18% | D+30.6 | 52.81% | 39.86% | D+13 | D |
| 42 | 62.03% | 36.85% | D+25.2 | 51.48% | 41.06% | D+10.4 | D |
| 43 | 69.40% | 29.09% | D+40.3 | 51.86% | 39.48% | D+12.4 | R |
| 44 | 71.73% | 26.37% | D+45.4 | 52.37% | 37.93% | D+14.4 | D |
| 45 | 65.66% | 32.94% | D+32.7 | 57.08% | 35.06% | D+22 | R |
| 46 | 69.74% | 29.10% | D+40.6 | 57.86% | 34.83% | D+23 | D |
| 47 | 51.82% | 46.23% | D+5.6 | 48.08% | 40.22% | D+7.9 | D |
| 48 | 67.63% | 31.05% | D+36.6 | 58.22% | 33.67% | D+24.6 | D |
| 49 | 71.40% | 27.44% | D+44 | 63.21% | 29.76% | D+33.4 | D |
| 50 | 64.02% | 34.41% | D+29.6 | 59.88% | 31.83% | D+28 | R |
| 51 | 70.33% | 28.32% | D+42 | 61.16% | 30.89% | D+30.3 | D |
| Total | 70.55% | 27.84% | D+42.7 | 62.22% | 30.04% | D+32.2 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ Hawaii State Legislature, "Hawaii Revised Statutes §12-31," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ Hawaii State Legislature, "Hawaii Revised Statutes §12-31," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 State of Hawaii - Office of Elections, "Voting in Hawaii," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ Hawaii State Legislature, "HB1248," accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 State of Hawaii Office of Elections, "Registration," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 State of Hawaii Office of Elections, "Voter Registration and Permanent Absentee Application," accessed July 19, 2024
- ↑ State of Hawaii Office of Elections, "Hawaii Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 270towin.com, "Historical Presidential Elections," accessed August 2, 2017
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
