Republicans stand to increase their numbers in both the state Senate and House of Representatives, according to late election returns released on Wednesday evening.

What You Need To Know

  • In the Senate, Republican Samantha DeCorte garnered 6,849 votes to 5,711 for Cedric Gates in the race for the District 22 seat vacated by Maile Shimabukuro, who retired following this year’s legislative session
  • If the results hold up, Republicans will hold three seats in the 25-seat chamber
  • In the House, Republican incumbents Lauren Cheape Matsumoto, David Alcos and Diamond Garcia maintained their advantages over Democratic challengers
  • House Republicans can increase their numbers to eight from six if late results from District 40 and District 45 races hold

In the Senate, Republican Samantha DeCorte garnered 6,849 votes to 5,711 for Cedric Gates in the race for the District 22 seat vacated by Maile Shimabukuro, who retired following this year’s legislative session.

Incumbent Brenton Awa also received 10,567 votes to hold off Democratic challenger Ben Shafer (9,477) in the District 23 race.

If the results hold up, Republicans will hold three seats in the 25-seat chamber. (District 20 Sen. Kurt Fevella is up for reelection in 2026.)

In the House, Republican incumbents Lauren Cheape Matsumoto, David Alcos and Diamond Garcia maintained their advantages over Democratic challengers.

In the latest returns, Matsumoto led Alexander Ozawa 8,762 votes to 3,411; Alcos led John Clark, 5,461 to 3,831; and Garcia led Anthony Makana Paris, 4,795 to 3,639.

District 39 Rep. Elijah Pierick, who trailed Democratic challenger Corey Rosenlee in early returns, rallied to take a narrow 4,706-4,686 lead. If the 20-point margin holds up, the race would be subject to automatic recount under state election law.

Two other Republican incumbents secured reelection in the Primary Election. Rep. Gene Ward ran unopposed in District 17; Kanani Souza defeated fellow Republican Sheila Medeiros, her only challenger for the District 43 seat.

House Republicans can increase their numbers to eight from six if late results from District 40 and District 45 races hold.

In the District 40 race, Julie Reyes Oda leads Democratic incumbent Rose Martinez, 4,290-3,828. Meanwhile, Chris Muraoka (3,117) holds an advantage over Desire DeSoto (2,908) for the District 45 seat that Gates vacated to pursue his Senate race.