[ STATE LEGISLATURE ]
AYUMI NAKANISHI / ANAKANISHI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Democratic candidate Jon Yoshimura and his supporters watched the voting results on TV Saturday at his campaign headquarters. His Senate campaign against Republican Gordon Trimble will be one of the legislative races to watch.
Political quake How leadership shapes up in the state Senate and House will depend on whether Republicans can win more seats in the general election, leaders from both parties say.
could tilt House
Senate Republicans hope to gain
Legislative races to watch
influence with committee jobs
By Crystal Kua and Pat Omandam
ckua@starbulletin.com | pomandam@starbulletin.comMicah Kane, Hawaii GOP chairman, said the Republicans are competitive in enough races to win a majority in the 51-member state House.
"How hard we're all going to work to make that happen is what's to be seen," he said.
In the Senate the GOP hopes to gain three or four additional seats to the three seats already held by Republicans. Democrats say they are going to do what they can to keep the Republican numbers down.
"I know that we've got some challenges ahead of us," said Senate President Robert Bunda (D, Wahiawa), who had an easy re-election with no opposition. "But hopefully we can prevail."
Both Bunda and Senate Vice President Colleen Hanabusa (D, Waianae) -- they joined forces to form the current leadership lineup -- said that talk of reorganizing the 25-member Senate will have to wait until after they know how many Republicans and Democrats get elected.
"Right now it's a matter of getting as many of the Democrats in as we can," said Hanabusa, who lost four political allies in the primary election.
GOP leaders in the Senate said their increased numbers would mean more involvement in the legislative process.
"If we had six solid Republican votes, we will be players in determining the next Senate president. There's no question about that," said Senate Minority Leader Sam Slom. "We've got the ability to craft legislation, to make a difference."
Slom noted that just four years ago, there were only two Republican senators. He said five or six seats "opens up all possibilities, including (committee) chairmanships for Republicans."
Minority Floor Leader Fred Hemmings said what is needed is more balance between the Democrats and Republicans, and he thinks that could still be achieved even if Bunda continues as Senate president.
"I don't think he needs us (to organize), but I think he'll work with us," Hemmings said, praising what he called Bunda's evenhanded leadership.
In the House the battle for majority control will depend on how much both political parties want it.
Republicans say they have the numbers to seize power, while Democrats believe they can retain the leadership posts and perhaps even gain a few GOP seats.
But both say the key is strong campaigning over the next six weeks. The ruling party decides almost all House leadership positions and is pivotal in the legislative process.
"It's a challenge right now," said House Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo). "We'll have to work hard the next 45 days, and I'll be throwing a lot of my support and backing to all of the Democrat candidates."
Galen Fox, House Minority Floor leader, said he does not see how Democrats think they will win more seats because it will have to come against a Republican incumbent who already knows how to win.
Besides, the primary election results show voters want change, he said.
"Could you have gotten a clearer message? All the votes (were) for Lingle, and all the votes (were) for (Ed) Case," Fox said.
"People want change and we're the party of change, and so I think if you're an incumbent, you're in pretty good shape," he said.
Democrat Alex Sonson, who finally won a primary race on his fifth attempt, said the Democrats have fielded good candidates that will attract voters.
Nevertheless, he is not taking anything for granted in his first general election, against Republican John Nuusa for the House District 36 (Waipahu) seat.
"This is a new feeling for me," Sonson said. "We've never been this far before."
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Legislative races to watch
Senate
DISTRICT 1 (MILOLII-WAIMEA)
Virginia Isbell (D) vs. state Rep. Paul Whalen (R)
Why hot race: Whalen is currently in the state House, and Isbell is a former state lawmaker vying to represent a newly drawn Senate district with no incumbent.
Key to victory: Whalen currently represents part of the Republican-dominated district, while Isbell needs to reacquaint herself with voters after being out of public office for years.
DISTRICT 5 (HONOKOHAU-MAKENA)
Roz Baker (D) vs. Don Couch (R)
Why hot race: Baker trying to make comeback in Senate, while Couch could potentially capture another seat for Republicans.
Key to victory: Name recognition, grass roots
DISTRICT 12 (WAIKIKI-DOWNTOWN HONOLULU)
City Councilman Jon Yoshimura (D) vs. Gordon Trimble (R)
Why hot race: New Senate district with no incumbent; publicity over Yoshimura's legal woes; Trimble upset Rep. Lei Ahu Isa in the Republican primary.
Key to victory: Reach out to hard-to-contact condominium residents; name recognition
DISTRICT 23 (KAHUKU-KANEOHE)
Melodie Aduja (D) vs. Lacene Terri (R)
Why hot race: Aduja defeated incumbent Sen. Bob Nakata in the primary, while Republicans believe they have a good chance of winning this seat.
Key to victory: Grass-roots campaign, going door to door
House
DISTRICT 42 (WAIPAHU-WEST LOCH-EWA)
Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo (D) vs. Alfonso Jimenez (R)
Why hot race: This newly formed district has no incumbent.
Key to victory: Name recognition
DISTRICT 32 (KALIHI-HICKAM-ALIAMANU-FOSTER VILLAGE)
State Rep. Ben Cabreros (D) vs. Lynn Finnegan (R)
Why hot race: This is a vacant Republican district after Bob McDermott left to run for Congress.
Key to victory: Strength of grass-roots campaign
DISTRICT 27 (NUUANU-LILIHA)
Jennifer Waihee (D) vs. Corinne Ching (R)
Why hot race: Former Democratic state Rep. Lei Ahu Isa left the district to run for state Senate as a Republican. Ching lives and works in the district, while Waihee has broader name recognition.
Key to victory: Getting the right message to voters
DISTRICT 31 (MOANALUA VALLEY-SALT LAKE)
Glenn Wakai (D) vs. Brad Sakamoto (R)
Why hot race: With no incumbent, Wakai and Sakamoto are 30-somethings who want to make a difference in the district.
Key to victory: Record of public service
