Hawaii's state Legislature will remain firmly in Democratic hands with Republicans at their lowest level in more than two decades.

There are now just six GOP House members and two Republican senators in the 76-member state Legislature.

Waikiki Republican Sen. Gordon Trimble lost a bitter race to Brickwood Galuteria, the former Hawaii Democratic Party chairman.

Trimble was one of four GOP senators during the last legislative session. One of the four, Paul Whalen, did not run for re-election, and his seat was filled in the primary election by Dr. Josh Green, a Democrat.

“;This is not a good year to be a Republican,”; Trimble said.

Galuteria's victory means there are just two Republicans, Sam Slom and Fred Hemmings, in the Senate. The Senate last had just two GOP members from 1995 to 1999.

Over in the state House, the Windward seat held by Democratic Rep. Tommy Waters remains in Democratic control as first-time candidate Chris Lee beat former state Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa.

“;It feels good,”; Lee said.

Lee said that just like the interest in Barack Obama nationally, there was interest in Hawaii in fresh political faces.

“;I think there is a search for new faces in politics,”; Lee said.

In other legislative races, longtime Democratic Rep. Dwight Takamine defeated Republican Ted Hong for a state Senate seat.

House Speaker Calvin Say, a 32-year legislative veteran, said that Obama's strong showing in Hawaii helped Democrats across the board.

“;He helped tremendously,”; Say said. “;There were coattails all the way down the ballot.

“;The new Democrats will be working on problems facing the economy and housing and health care.”;

Incumbent Republican Rep. Colleen Meyer was defeated by political newcomer Jessica Wooley.

The remaining House GOP incumbents, Reps. Gene Ward, Barbara Marumoto, Corrine Ching and Kymberly Pine, all won re-election and will be joined by Reps. Lynn Finnegan and Cynthia Thielen, who were elected without opposition.

Sen. Fred Hemmings, GOP leader, called his party's defeat “;a smashing victory for the status quo.”;

In the House, GOP leader Rep. Lynn Finnegan said the Obama win was a big part of the GOP's loss as voters were not interested in Republican candidates.

Finnegan said the race between Rep. Rida Cabanilla Arakawa and her former legislative aide, Republican Tom Berg, was one that the GOP should have won.

After Berg left the job, he ran against Cabanilla Arakawa and came within 122 votes of beating the Waipahu Democrat.