HONOLULU — With an estimated 85% of total votes reported, Rick Blangiardi has officially clinched his bid for a second term as Honolulu Mayor and the state’s three Congressional incumbents up for reelection cruised to easy primary victories.

What You Need To Know

  • The state House of Representatives could face a major change as the first results printout of the night showed Kim Coco Iwamoto with 52% of votes tabulated in her third effort to unseat House Speaker Scott Saiki
  • Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi needed 51% of votes to avoid a runoff in the General Election. He reached nearly 80% in the first readout, mathematically eliminating his rivals before nightfall
  • In Congressional races, incumbents Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Ed Case both won their races after the first readout; Rep. Jill Tokuda ran unopposed
  • Honolulu City Council vice chair Esther Kiaaina is less than three percentage points shy of avoiding a General Election runoff

The state House of Representatives, however, could face a major change as the first results printout of the night showed Kim Coco Iwamoto with 52% of votes tabulated in her third effort to unseat House Speaker Scott Saiki.

While the lead could easily shift in the next two readouts, Iwamoto holds a 206-vote advantage, 2,425-2,219, in the District 25 (Makiki, Punchbowl, Nuuanu, Dowsett Highlands, Pacific Heights, Pauoa) race.

Iwamoto, an attorney and former Hawaii Board of Education member, narrowly lost to Saiki in her two previous campaigns for the seat.

Meanwhile, Blangiardi handily dispatched challengers Choon James, David Bourgoin and Karl Dicks. The first-term mayor needed 51% of votes to avoid a runoff in the General Election. He reached nearly 80% in the first readout, mathematically eliminating his rivals before nightfall.

Blangiardi garnered 115,017 votes in the first printout for the non-partisan race. James, in her second campaign against Blangiardi, was a distant second with 19,519 (13%).

Blangiardi’s Hawaii Island counterpart Mitch Roth appears to be headed for a General Election showdown with Kimo Alameda. Roth’s first reading total stands at 16,907 (37.7%). Alameda is second with 12,709 (26.9%).

In Congressional races, incumbents Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Ed Case were both declared the winners of their races after the first readout; Rep. Jill Tokuda can unopposed.

Hirono garnered 160,223 votes (85%), with Ron Curtis (12,672, 6.7%) and Clyde Lewman (3,694, 2%) far behind. Bob McDermott led Republican candidates with 23,815 votes (45.5%).

For House District 1, Case had 77,842 votes (82.6%). Republican Patrick Largey, who ran unopposed, got 14,845 votes.

Meanwhile, Tokuda also reached the 80% mark on the first readout with 76,157 votes. Republican candidate Steve Bond, who ran unopposed, amassed 15,970 votes.

In Honolulu City Council races, incumbents Andria Tupola, Augie Tulba and Radiant Cordero all ran unopposed and will return to Honolulu Hale for another term. Council vice chair Esther Kiaaina, meanwhile, is less than three percentage points shy of avoiding a General Election race. As of the first readout, she led her field of four with 11,106 votes, ahead of David Kauahikua (3,277), Kelsey Nakanelua (3,188) and Christopher Curren, (1,159) for the District 3 seat.

Scott Nishimoto (12,417, 58.7%) holds a comfortable lead in the race for Calvin Say’s vacated District 5 seat. His nearest competitor is Brendan Schultz (3,121, 14.8%).

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.