The Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) announced its recommendations for congressional, gubernatorial and Hawaii State House and Senate candidates in the upcoming 2018 primary election. See links below to hear from HSTA leaders and the candidates Hawaii's teachers are backing in the primary.
“After many committee discussions, interviews and extensive research about this year’s candidates, the HSTA Board of Directors has agreed to recommend the following candidates who have been strong supporters of public education and are committed to creating a better future for our keiki,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee.
The HSTA recommends the following legislative candidates:
Hawaii State House of Representatives
|
District |
Candidate |
District |
Candidate |
District |
Candidate |
|
1 |
Mark Nakashima (D) |
20 |
Calvin Say (D) |
36 |
Marilyn Lee (D) |
|
2 |
Christopher L.T. Todd (D) |
21 |
Scott Nishimoto (D) |
37 |
Ryan Yamane (D) |
|
3 |
Richard H.K. Onishi (D) |
22 |
Tom Brower (D) |
38 |
Henry Aquino (D) |
|
4 |
Joy A. San Buenaventura (D) |
23 |
Benton Rodden (D) |
39 |
Ty J.K. Cullen (D) |
|
5 |
Jeanné Kapela (D) |
25 |
Sylvia Luke (D) |
41 |
Lynn Robinson-Onderko (D) |
|
6 |
Nicole Lowen (D) |
26 |
Scott Saiki (D) |
42 |
Sharon Har (D) |
|
9 |
Justin Woodson (D) |
27 |
Takashi Ohno (D) |
43 |
Stacelyn Eli (D) |
|
11 |
Tina Wildberger (D) |
28 |
John Mizuno (D) |
44 |
Cedric Gates (D) |
|
12 |
Tiare Lawrence (D) |
29 |
Daniel Holt (D) |
45 |
Lauren Matsumoto (R) |
|
13 |
Lynn DeCoite (D) |
30 |
Ernesto Ganaden (D) |
46 |
Amy Perruso (D) |
|
14 |
Nadine Nakamura (D) |
31 |
Aaron Ling Johanson (D) |
48 |
Lisa Kitagawa (D) |
|
15 |
James Tokioka (D) |
32 |
Linda Ichiyama (D) |
49 |
Natalia Hussey-Burdick (D) |
|
16 |
Dee Morikawa (D) |
33 |
Sam Kong (D) |
50 |
Micah Kalama Pregitzer (D) |
|
17 |
Gene Ward (R) |
34 |
Gregg Takayama (D) |
51 |
Chris Lee (D) |
NOTE: The HSTA Board of Directors took no position on House districts 7 and 8.
Candidates in House districts 10, 18, 19, 24, 35, 40 and 47 did not ask for recommendations from the HSTA.
Hawaii State Senate
|
District |
Candidate |
District |
Candidate |
|
1 |
Kaiali`i Kahele (D) |
12 |
Sharon Moriwaki (D) |
|
3 |
Dru Kanuha (D) |
16 |
Breene Harimoto (D) |
|
4 |
Heather Kimball (D) |
17 |
Clarence Nishihara (D) |
|
6 |
Terez Amato (D) |
18 |
Michelle Kidani (D) |
|
7 |
J. Kalani English (D) |
21 |
Maile Shimabukuro (D) |
NOTE: The HSTA Board of Directors took no position on Senate districts 23 and 24.
Senate district seats not up for re-election this term: 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 20, 22, 25.
The HSTA previously announced its support for the re-election of Gov. David Ige (D), the election of Dr. Josh Green (D), a candidate for lieutenant governor, the re-election of U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D) and for Sherry Campagna (D), who is running to represent rural Oahu and the neighbor islands in U.S. House District 2. On Aug. 8, HSTA announced its recommendation of Lt. Gov. Doug Chin for the congressional seat in U.S. House District 1.
HSTA BACKS THE GOVERNOR FOR ANOTHER TERM: Watch this video to hear from Rosenlee and Ige at a news conference announcing HSTA's support for Ige's re-election in May.
HSTA AND THE CARPENTERS SUPPORT GREEN FOR LG: Watch this video to hear from Rosenlee, Carpenters leader Ron Taketa and from Green at a joint news conference announcing support for Green in the lieutenant governor's race.
HSTA AND NEA BACK DOUG CHIN FOR CONGRESS: Watch this video of a news conference with Rosenlee and Chin when HSTA and NEA backed Chin August 8.
HSTA CHOOSES SHERRY OVER TULSI: Watch this video to hear from Rosenlee and Campagna at a news conference announcing HSTA's support for Campagna's congressional campaign in May.
“The HSTA is proud to recommend these candidates and would like to thank all of the state lawmakers who supported efforts during the 2018 legislative session to improve public education and the learning environment for Hawaii’s students,” Rosenlee said.
“We are thankful that every incumbent state legislator we support voted in favor of the constitutional amendment to create a new funding stream for our chronically underfunded public schools,” Rosenlee added. “Their support of the constitutional amendment was only one of the criteria that our teacher leaders considered when deciding who the HSTA should support.”
“With these supporters of public education in office, we will continue to make education a priority to improve Hawaii’s public school system,” Rosenlee said.
The primary election will be held Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. Polling places across the state will open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day.
To register to vote, find your polling place and other election information, go to http://elections.hawaii.gov/.