Hawaii 2026 elections

Political landscape in Hawaii

Overview

Hawaii is an island state lying roughly 2,000 miles southwest of the US mainland in the Pacific Ocean, and the only state made up entirely of an archipelago. Its 137 volcanic islands cover nearly all of the Hawaiian chain; the eight main islands include Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island, known as the Big Island. Hawaii is the eighth smallest state by land area and ranks 40th in population, and about two-thirds of its roughly 1.4 million residents live on Oʻahu, where Honolulu is both the capital and the largest city. Polynesians settled the islands between about 1000 and 1200 CE, a unified kingdom formed in 1810, and after American and European business interests toppled the monarchy in 1893 the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898. The Japanese attack on Hawaii of December 7, 1941 contributed to US entry into World War II, and on August 21, 1959 Hawaii became the newest state. Tourism and military defense are now the two largest economic sectors, and the state hosts the US Pacific Fleet along with tens of thousands of Defense Department employees.

Officeholders

As of October 2026, the governor of Hawaii is Josh Green (Democratic), and the state's US senators are Brian Schatz (Democratic) and Mazie Hirono (Democratic).

2026 elections

On November 3, 2026, voters in Hawaii will decide the race for governor, contests in 2 US House districts and 2 ballot measures. The two amendments concern RISE bonds and the time the state Senate has to act on judicial appointments.