Corruption scandal and intra-party battles dominate Hawaii’s June state primary

Hawaii’s primary sees nine hopefuls vying for the embattled lieutenant governor’s seat amid a bribery case, while long-time congressman Ed Case faces a strong primary challenge.

A corruption probe involving Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, who entered a not-guilty plea to 2022 bribery allegations, casts a shadow over Hawaii’s state primary, where nine candidates are contesting the office. The Democratic field includes Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami, state Rep. Della Au Belatti and former Deputy Attorney General John Choi, with Kawakami outpacing rivals in fundraising thanks to a carpenters-union-linked political action committee that has spent about $2 million.

Republican Daniel Anthony was the top spender among his party’s early contenders, though his $6,900 outlay pales beside Democratic spending. Governor Josh Green named Keith Regan as acting lieutenant governor; Regan is not seeking election. Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Case, seeking a seventh term, must overcome four primary opponents, notably state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who attacked Case for backing the SAVE Act, a Trump-backed voter-ID measure.

Case and Keohokalole are evenly matched financially, though Case holds a larger cash reserve. The district is solidly Democratic, and the primary victor will face unopposed Republican Adriel Lam in the November race.