2026 Hawaii Senate election
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November 3, 2026
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13 of the 25 seats in the Hawaii Senate 13 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Hawaii |
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The 2026 Hawaii Senate election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to elect 13 of 25 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Hawaii Senate. Partisan primaries will take place on August 8, 2026.[1] Democrats currently hold a veto-proof supermajority in the chamber.
State senators in Hawaii represent an average of 58,405 residents as of the 2020 United States census.[2] If a primary or general election in a district sees only one candidate file, no election will be held. Four general elections in 2024 were canceled due to lack of competition.
By district
†: Incumbent not running for reelection. ‡: Special election.
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Joy San Buenaventura | Dem | TBD | |||
| 5th | Troy Hashimoto | Dem | TBD | |||
| 8th | Ron Kouchi | Dem | TBD | |||
| 9th | Stanley Chang | Dem | TBD | |||
| 10th | Les Ihara Jr. | Dem | TBD | |||
| 11th | Carol Fukunaga | Dem | TBD | |||
| 13th | Karl Rhoads† | Dem | TBD | |||
| 14th | Donna Mercado Kim | Dem | TBD | |||
| 15th | Glenn Wakai | Dem | TBD | |||
| 17th | Donovan Dela Cruz | Dem | TBD | |||
| 19th | Rachele Lamosao‡ | Dem | TBD | |||
| 20th | Kurt Fevella | Rep | TBD | |||
| 21st | Mike Gabbard | Dem | TBD | |||
| 25th | Chris Lee | Dem | TBD | |||
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[3] | Safe D | January 22, 2026 |
Background
| District | County | Reg. voters (2022)[4] | 2022 vote | 2024 pres.[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Hawaii | 31,110 | D+43.9 | D+26.9 |
| 5th | Maui | 34,796 | D+Unopp.[b] | D+24.7 |
| 8th | Kauaʻi | 48,494 | D+48.3 | D+19.5 |
| 9th | Honolulu | 39,591 | D+40.5 | D+36.7 |
| 10th | Honolulu | 32,962 | D+34.0 | D+42.5 |
| 11th | Honolulu | 34,811 | D+50.6 | D+46.1 |
| 13th | Honolulu | 30,596 | D+42.4 | D+34.7 |
| 14th | Honolulu | 26,267 | D+47.1 | D+18.1 |
| 15th | Honolulu | 31,254 | D+35.4 | D+14.0 |
| 17th | Honolulu | 34,101 | D+30.4 | D+15.6 |
| 20th | Honolulu | 31,964 | R+Unopp. | R+4.8 |
| 21st | Honolulu | 33,170 | D+17.8 | R+4.2 |
| 25th | Honolulu | 40,051 | D+40.6 | D+30.2 |
Retiring incumbents
Democrats
- District 13: Karl Rhoads is retiring.[6]
Detailed results
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District 2 • District 5 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 17 • District 19 (special) • District 20 • District 21 • District 25 |
District 2
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Incumbent Democrat Joy San Buenaventura was re-elected in 2022 with 69.74% of the vote. She is running for re-election.
Democratic primary
Filed
- Joy San Buenaventura, incumbent senator[7]
Third-party and independent candidates
Filed
- Fred Fogel, nominee for this district in 2016 and 2022, nominee for the 5th state house district in 2024, nominee for the 3rd state house district in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018, Democratic candidate for the 3rd state house district in 2020 (Libertarian)[7]
District 5
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Incumbent Democrat Troy Hashimoto was elected in a 2024 special election unopposed. He has not announced if he will run for re-election.
Democratic primary
Potential
- Troy Hashimoto, incumbent senator
District 8
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Incumbent Democrat Ron Kouchi was re-elected in 2022 with 71.41% of the vote. Although previously signaling he would retire, Kouchi instead announced he would run for re-election.[8]
Democratic primary
Declared
- Ron Kouchi, incumbent senator (2010–present)[8]
Declined
- Derek Kawakami, mayor of Kauaʻi County (2018–present)[8]
District 9
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Incumbent Democrat Stanley Chang was re-elected in 2022 with 70.27% of the vote. He has not announced if he will run for re-election.
Democratic primary
Potential
- Stanley Chang, incumbent senator
District 10
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Incumbent Democrat Les Ihara Jr. was re-elected in 2022 with 66.98% of the vote. He has not announced if he will run for re-election.
Democratic primary
Filed
- Jake T. Morrow[7]
- Jackson Sayama, state representative (2020–present) from the 21st district (2022–present) and the 20th district (2020–2022)[7]
Potential
- Les Ihara Jr., incumbent senator
District 11
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Incumbent Democrat Carol Fukunaga was elected in 2022 with 75.31% of the vote. She has not announced if she will run for re-election.
Democratic primary
Potential
- Carol Fukunaga, incumbent senator
District 13
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Incumbent Democrat Karl Rhoads was re-elected in 2022 with 64.36% of the vote. He is retiring.[6]
Democratic primary
Filed
- Lei Ahu Isa, former at-large member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (2014–2022) and former state representative (1996–2002)[7]
- Tricia M.K.L. Nakamatsu[7]
- Jordan K. Nakamura[7]
- Michael "Cov" Ratcliffe[7]
- Lynn Vasquez, nominee for the 27th state house district in 2010[7]
Declined
- Karl Rhoads, incumbent senator
Republican primary
Filed
- Wallyn Kanoelani Christian, candidate for the 27th state house district in 2024, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022[7]
District 14
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Incumbent Democrat Donna Mercado Kim was re-elected in 2022 with 73.57% of the vote. She is running for re-election.
Democratic primary
Filed
- Donna Mercado Kim, incumbent senator[7]
- Christy Kikue MacPherson[7]
District 15
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Incumbent Democrat Glenn Wakai was re-elected in 2022 with 67.69% of the vote. He has not announced if he will run for re-election.
Democratic primary
Potential
- Glenn Wakai, incumbent senator
District 17
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Incumbent Democrat Donovan Dela Cruz was re-elected in 2022 with 65.20% of the vote. He has not announced if he will run for re-election.
Democratic primary
Filed
- Nani H. Brown[7]
Potential
- Donovan Dela Cruz, incumbent senator
District 19 (special)
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Incumbent Democrat Rachele Lamosao was appointed effective January 2026 after Henry Aquino, who was re-elected in 2024 unopposed, resigned in November 2025. A special election to fill the remaining two years of his term will be held concurrent with regularly scheduled primary elections on August 8.[9]
Democratic primary
Potential
- Rachele Lamosao, incumbent senator
Republican primary
Filed
- Elijah Pierick, state representative from the 39th district (2022–present)[7]
District 20
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Incumbent Republican Kurt Fevella was re-elected in 2022 unopposed. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Filed
- Paul J. Chapman[7]
- Kurt Fevella, incumbent senator[7]
- Bob McDermott, former state representative (1996–2002, 2012–2022), nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022 and 2024[7]
Democratic primary
Filed
- Rose Martinez, former state representative from the 40th district (2022–2024)[7]
- Mark D. "Markus" Owens, realtor[7]
District 21
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Incumbent Democrat Mike Gabbard was re-elected in 2022 with 58.89% of the vote. He is running for re-election.
Democratic primary
Filed
- Mike Gabbard, incumbent senator[7]
District 25
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Incumbent Democrat Chris Lee was re-elected in 2022 with 70.30% of the vote. He has not announced if he will run for re-election.
Democratic primary
Potential
- Chris Lee, incumbent senator
Republican primary
Filed
- Ku Lono "Bobby" Cuadra[7]
Third-party and independent candidates
Filed
- Kai S. Williams (Nonpartisan)[7]
