The 2026 Hawaii Senate election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to elect 13 of 25 representatives to serve four-year terms in the Hawaii Senate. Partisan primaries will take place on August 8, 2026. Democrats currently hold a veto-proof supermajority in the chamber.
State senators in Hawaii represent an average of 58,405 residents as of the 2020 United States census. If a primary or general election in a district sees only one candidate file, no election will be held. Four general elections in 2024 were canceled due to lack of competition.
Summary
By district †: Incumbent not running for reelection. ‡: Special election. DistrictIncumbent PartyElected Senator Party 2nd Joy San Buenaventura Dem TBD 5th Troy Hashimoto Dem TBD 8th Ron Kouchi Dem TBD 9th Stanley Chang Dem TBD 10th Les Ihara Jr. Dem TBD 11th Carol Fukunaga Dem TBD 13th Karl Rhoads† Dem TBD 14th Donna Mercado Kim Dem TBD 15th Glenn Wakai Dem TBD 17th Donovan Dela Cruz Dem TBD 18th Danielle Bass‡ Dem TBD 19th Rachele Lamosao‡ Dem TBD 20th Kurt Fevella Rep TBD 21st Mike Gabbard Dem TBD 25th Chris Lee Dem TBD
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball January 22, 2026
Background District County Reg. voters(2022) 2022 vote 2024 pres. 2nd Hawaii 31,110 D+43.9 D+26.9 5th Maui 34,796 D+Unopp. D+24.7 8th Kauaʻi 48,494 D+48.3 D+19.5 9th Honolulu 39,591 D+40.5 D+36.7 10th Honolulu 32,962 D+34.0 D+42.5 11th Honolulu 34,811 D+50.6 D+46.1 13th Honolulu 30,596 D+42.4 D+34.7 14th Honolulu 26,267 D+47.1 D+18.1 15th Honolulu 31,254 D+35.4 D+14.0 17th Honolulu 34,101 D+30.4 D+15.6 20th Honolulu 31,964 R+Unopp. R+4.8 21st Honolulu 33,170 D+17.8 R+4.2 25th Honolulu 40,051 D+40.6 D+30.2
Retiring incumbents Democrats District 13: Karl Rhoads is retiring. District 18: Michelle Kidani retired on June 30, 2026; Danielle Bass was appointed in August 2026 to serve the rest of her term.
Incumbents defeated In Primary Election District 10: Les Ihara Jr. lost renomination to Jackson Sayama.
Detailed results District 2 • District 5 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 17 • District 18 (special) • District 19 (special) • District 20 • District 21 • District 25
District 2
Incumbent Democrat Joy San Buenaventura was re-elected in 2022 with 69.74% of the vote. She is running for re-election.
Democratic primary Nominee Joy San Buenaventura, incumbent senator Defeated Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian
Third-party and independent candidates Filed Fred Fogel, nominee for this district in 2016 and 2022, nominee for the 5th state house district in 2024, nominee for the 3rd state house district in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018, Democratic candidate for the 3rd state house district in 2020 (Libertarian)
District 5
Incumbent Democrat Troy Hashimoto was elected in a 2024 special election unopposed. He is unopposed in the primary and general elections. Democratic primary Nominee Troy Hashimoto, incumbent senator
District 8
Incumbent Democrat Ron Kouchi was re-elected in 2022 with 71.41% of the vote. Although previously signaling he would retire, Kouchi instead announced he would run for re-election. He is unopposed in the primary and general elections. Democratic primary Nominee Ron Kouchi, incumbent senator (2010–present) Declined Derek Kawakami, mayor of Kauaʻi County (2018–present) (running for lieutenant governor)
District 9
Incumbent Democrat Stanley Chang was re-elected in 2022 with 70.27% of the vote. He faces Republican David A. Croswell in the general election.
Democratic primary Nominee Stanley Chang, incumbent senator
Republican primary Nominee David A. Croswell
District 10
Incumbent Democrat Les Ihara Jr. was re-elected in 2022 with 66.98% of the vote. He was defeated for re-nomination by state representative Jackson Sayama, who is unopposed in the general election. Democratic primary Nominee Jackson Sayama, state representative (2020–present) from the 21st district (2022–present) and the 20th district (2020–2022) Eliminated Les Ihara Jr., incumbent senator
District 11
Incumbent Democrat Carol Fukunaga was elected in 2022 with 75.31% of the vote. She is unopposed in the primary and general elections. Democratic primary Nominee Carol Fukunaga, incumbent senator
District 13
Incumbent Democrat Karl Rhoads was re-elected in 2022 with 64.36% of the vote. He is retiring.
Democratic primary Nominee Tricia Kwai Lin Nakamatsu Eliminated Lei Ahu Isa, former at-large member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (2014–2022) and former state representative (1996–2002) Jordan K. Nakamura James Logue Lynn Vasquez, nominee for the 27th state house district in 2010 Declined Karl Rhoads, incumbent senator
Republican primary Nominee Wallyn Kanoelani Christian, candidate for the 27th state house district in 2024, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022
District 14
Incumbent Democrat Donna Mercado Kim was re-elected in 2022 with 73.57% of the vote. She is running for re-election.
Democratic primary Nominee Donna Mercado Kim, incumbent senator Eliminated Christy Kikue MacPherson
District 15
Incumbent Democrat Glenn Wakai was re-elected in 2022 with 67.69% of the vote. He is unopposed in the primary and general elections.
Democratic primary Nominee Glenn Wakai, incumbent senator
District 17
Incumbent Democrat Donovan Dela Cruz was re-elected in 2022 with 65.20% of the vote. He defeated Nani H. Brown in the primary election and is unopposed in the general election.
Democratic primary Nominee Donovan Dela Cruz, incumbent senator Eliminated Nani H. Brown
District 18 (special)
Incumbent Democrat Danielle Bass was appointed effective August 2026 after Michelle Kidani, who was re-elected in 2024 with 61.7% of the vote, resigned in June 2026. A special election to fill the remainder of her term will be held concurrent with regularly scheduled general election on November 3. Democratic primary Applied Danielle Bass, appointed senator Beth Fukumoto, former Republican state representative Sechyi Laiu, attorney Republican primary Nominee Kelly Kitashima, hotel manager and candidate for the Honolulu City Council in 2018 and 2020 Declined Lauren Cheape Matsumoto, state representative from the 39th district (2022–present)
District 19 (special)
Incumbent Democrat Rachele Lamosao was appointed effective January 2026 after Henry Aquino, who was re-elected in 2024 unopposed, resigned in November 2025. A special election to fill the remaining two years of his term will be held concurrent with regularly scheduled primary elections on August 8. Democratic primary Nominee Rachele Lamosao, incumbent senator Eliminated Inam Rahman Republican primary Nominee Elijah Pierick, state representative from the 39th district (2022–present)
District 20
Incumbent Republican Kurt Fevella was re-elected in 2022 unopposed. He is running for re-election. McDermott was selected as the Republican nominee following a tie breaking drawing. Republican primary Nominee
Bob McDermott, former state representative (1996–2002, 2012–2022), nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022 and 2024
Eliminated Rida Cabanilla Arakawa, former Democratic state representative (2004–2014, 2018–2020) Kurt Fevella, incumbent senator Democratic primary Nominee Markus Owens, realtor
District 21
Incumbent Democrat Mike Gabbard was re-elected in 2022 with 58.89% of the vote. He is unopposed in the primary and general elections. Democratic primary Nominee Mike Gabbard, incumbent senator
District 25
Incumbent Democrat Chris Lee was re-elected in 2022 with 70.30% of the vote. He defeated Bobby Silva in the Democratic primary election and is unopposed in the general election. Democratic primary Nominee Chris Lee, incumbent senator Eliminated Bobby Silva
See also Elections in Hawaii List of Hawaii state legislatures
Notes
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