Nearly 400 Candidates File For Hawaii’s Primary Election 3 Democrats and Republicans feature a lot of brand name politicians in key races. But a lot of newcomers, incumbents and former officials also are in the running.
Hawaii voters will soon decide who sets the policy agenda on affordable housing, homelessness, education, energy, the economy and the environment for years to come.
The change starts at the top this year, as Gov. David Ige has been in office since 2014 and can’t run for a third four-year term. Lt. Gov. Josh Green is among a number of candidates vying to succeed him.
It’s also a year in which all 76 seats in the Legislature are up for grabs because of reapportionment, a political reorganization of districts that occurs every 10 years. Most races will feature incumbents, though at least a dozen vacancies will feature newcomers to the House and Senate this year.
At stake in 2022 is also control of the mayoral offices on Maui and Kauai as well as open seats on all four county councils and on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees.
By Tuesday’s filing deadline, nearly 400 candidates filed for 104 races. That’s more candidates than in 2018 and 2020.
