Primary Election Results

Saturday, Aug. 10 was primary election day in Hawaii. Residents mailed in and dropped off their ballots to select candidates for each party to represent them in November’s general election. Overall, voter turnout statewide was poor, at just 32 percent. For Molokai, that number was even lower, as just 28 percent of Molokai’s registered voters participated.

In the race for District 7 State Senator, current senator Lynn DeCoite ran unopposed in the Democratic Party, and will face Republican challenger Gabby Macaraeg in the general election.

Current state representative Mahina Poepoe handily defeated challenger Linda Clark by almost 40 percent in the race for the Democratic nomination for the District 13 State Representative seat. Poepoe will compete against Republican Adam Scott in the general election.

For the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Molokai Resident Trustee, incumbent Luana Alapa took the victory with 48.9 percent of votes cast. R. Kunani Nihipali was second place with 29.8 percent of the vote as of the morning on Aug. 11. Because neither candidate eclipsed 50 percent of the vote, if these positions hold, then Alapa and Nihipali will compete in the general election.

Finally, incumbent Jill Tokuda, who represents Molokai as the U.S. Representative for District Two, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. She will take on Republican Steve Bond in the general election.

This year’s general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5.