Will Solid Blue Hawaii Go Republican?
The GOP did elect a Hawaii Governor from 2002 to 2010.
Pat Saiki, the
chairwoman of the Hawaii Republican Party, told party leaders on Saturday that
the Republican National Committee has invested in the islands to help Republican
candidates win in November.
In a memo, Saiki
said the national money would be used to hire local residents as field
representatives and to assist the party's "ground game" of voter outreach.
"This means that
our national counterpart understands the unique opportunity we have to put a
Republican back in Washington Place, to send Republicans to Washington, D.C.,
from Hawaii, and to increase Republican numbers in the state Legislature," Saiki
wrote reports the Honolulu Star Advertiser.
Former GOP Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona . Hawaii Governor's Race 41% - Duke Aiona (R) 34% - David Ige (D) 15% - Mufi Hannemann (I) |
Former Lt. Gov.
James "Duke" Aiona, the Republican candidate for governor, has led in
public-opinion polls in a three-way race against state Sen. David Ige, a
Democrat, and former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, an independent. Former
congressman Charles Djou, a Republican, is trying to reclaim the urban Honolulu
seat in Congress against state Rep. K. Mark Takai, a Democrat.
The Republican
Governors Association is expected to provide independent financial help to the
Aiona campaign.
Party officials
would not disclose how much the RNC has directed to the islands, but the figure
will be available in future campaign finance reports. Some Republicans have been
critical about diverting national money to Hawaii, a state historically
dominated by Democrats, when it could likely be put to better use in states
where Republicans have the opportunity to pick up seats and take control of the
U.S. Senate or expand their majority in the U.S. House.
National
Democrats, too, would prefer not to have to spend much money defending
Democratic candidates in Hawaii, since money is needed in battleground states.
The Democratic Governors Association has conducted research in Hawaii this year
and could step in to help Ige, who has struggled with fundraising.
The national
parties routinely help local parties by providing money for staff and voter
identification efforts, but local investments can increase during election
years.
Thanks to The Libertarian Republican for a heads up on this story.
Hawaii's 1st Congressional District 2012 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Colleen Hanabusa (incumbent) | 116,505 | 53.5% | |
Republican | Charles Djou | 96,824 | 44.4% | |
Blank Votes | 4,467 | 2.1% | ||
Over Votes | 80 | 0.0% | ||
Totals | 217,876 | 100% |
Ex-GOP Congressman Charles Djou Major Charles Djou served with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan. . Djou is trying to re-claim his urban Honolulu seat in Congress |
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