Republicans can increase
seats in state LegislatureIsa, Goodenow and Tarnas are among
By Mike Yuen
the Democrats facing a tough battle
Star-BulletinState Rep. Lei Ahu Isa of Puunui is in for a tough re-election fight. So are David Tarnas of Kamuela and Kenny Goodenow of Waimanalo.
They are among the Democratic lawmakers in trouble as Republicans stand to make gains in the Democratic-dominated state Legislature, perhaps picking up even more seats than they had projected.
The key to Republican success will hinge on getting the sizable number of voters who cast blank ballots in the GOP primary to actually vote for Republican legislative candidates in the general election.
A Star-Bulletin analysis of legislative results from the primary election reveals that hotly contested Democratic Senate races could not keep voters away from the GOP ballot.
And even in 24 of the 39 House districts held by Democrats --including such strongholds as Kalihi, Kaimuki and Pearl City -- voters flocked to the GOP gubernatorial primary.
Those voters, though, chose not to make a selection further down the ballot.
The percentage of blank GOP votes in legislative races that had a high turnout in the GOP primary ranged from 15.4 percent to 58 percent, with 23 having a blank-vote percentage of 31.8 percent or higher.
Democrats theorize that the large percentage of blank GOP votes stems from Democratic crossovers who couldn't bring themselves to vote a straight Republican ticket in the primary, although they likely made a selection for governor and lieutenant governor.
Republicans say the blank votes were more reflective of a lack of name recognition of its candidates than can be corrected during the six weeks leading up to the Nov. 3 general election.
Initially, the goal of state Republican leaders was to increase the GOP caucus in the 51-member House from 12 to 18. Now they're talking as high as 20 or 22. In 1993, the House had only four Republicans.
If they number at least 18, they can prevent the majority Democrats from overriding a veto if Republican candidate Linda Lingle is elected governor, said House Minority Floor Leader Barbara Marumoto of Waialae Iki.
House Assistant Minority Leader Sam Aiona of Makiki said it's cause for optimism when the unopposed Republican Senate candidate in Waianae, Dickyj Johnson, gets 2,211 votes, and the GOP primary attracts 310 more votes that a hotly contested three-way Democratic race.
In the District 23 race for a Windward Senate seat, the four-candidate Democratic contest drew 4,757 voters. The GOP primary, however, drew 1,243 more people. But 35.7 percent of the GOP ballots in the legislative race, in which businessman Joe Pickard was unopposed, were blank.
Hawaii GOP Chairwoman Donna Alcantara believes the primary results, which include Lingle being the overall top vote-getter, gives Republicans the momentum. Today she concludes three days of one-on-one meetings with GOP legislative nominees. The meetings are to decide "who needs the extra help to get over the fence," she said.
Meanwhile, state Democratic Party Chairman Walter Heen is in Washington sharing with national party officials the "disconcerting" primary results and asking them for assistance, including money.
William Kaneko, director of the isle Democratic coordinated campaign, said he is concerned about the Democratic nominees who received fewer votes than their Republican counterparts.
The following are Democratic legislators who will likely be facing tough re-election fights from Republican opponents: The battle ahead
Sen. Rod Tam (Pauoa); businesswoman Cindy Rasmussen
