State Sen. Lorraine Inouye once again defeated challenger Laura Acasio in the Democratic Primary Election Saturday night.
It was the second duel between Inouye and Acasio after the 2022 primary, when a redistricting put Inouye — then the District 4 senator — in contention for Acasio’s District 1 Senate seat, representing Hilo, Paukaa, Papaikou and Pepeekeo.
After nearly all mail-in ballots were tabulated Saturday evening, Inouye had received 7,069 votes next to Acasio’s 4,123, accounting for 63% of the total vote.
Because there were no challengers from other political parties, Inouye was reelected outright.
“I’m happy the campaign is over, and we can now go back to doing the people’s work,” Inouye said Saturday. “I’ll be back in our community looking at my constituents’ needs. … In particular, I’m concerned about our school buildings.”
Inouye went on to say that several schools in her district are in need of technology and electrical upgrades, including better air-conditioning systems to better match the August heat.
Meanwhile, outgoing Hawaii Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy won the House District 2 seat against fellow Democratic challenger Tanya Aynessazian. With most of the mail-in votes counted, Lee Loy had received 4,030 votes — 70% of the total votes — against Aynessazian’s 1,656.
The current representative of District 2, Richard Onishi, declined to run for reelection this year.
“The next step is to reach out to those agencies that are wholly with the state — Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Education, Department of Health — and improve our communications with them,” Lee Loy said. “We serve the same people, after all.”
All other contested legislative races on the Big Island seemed to be headed toward incumbent victories in the primary.
For House District 3, which includes a portion of Hilo, Keaukaha, Orchidland, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres and portions of Keaau and Kurtistown, Rep. Chris Todd had received 56% of the vote, well ahead of opponent Kiana Kahahele. The winner of that primary will face Republican Kanoa Wilson and Libertarian Austin Martin in the general election.
Democratic Rep. Jeanne Kapela of House District 5 — encompassing parts of Keaau and Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Fern Forest, Volcano, Pahala, Punaluu, Naalehu, Ocean View and Hookena — resoundingly won her race early Saturday evening, with 82% of the vote over her challenger, Chantel Makuaole-Perrin.
Kapela will face Republican Ashley Oyama and Libertarian Frederick Fogel in the General Election.
The race for House District 6 — including Captain Cook, Kailua-Kona, Kealakekua, Honaunau and Keauhou — was even more one-sided, with Democratic incumbent Kirstin Kahaloa receiving 92% of the vote against challenger John Betlach. She will go up against Republican Sylvie Madison in the General Slection.
All other House and Senate incumbents on the Big Island ran unopposed in the primary, although they all will face challengers from other parties in the General Election.
District 1 Rep. Mark Nakashima was unchallenged this election, but died in office July 11, with his name remaining on the ballot and his successor to be appointed by Gov. Josh Green.