Primary election recap: Abercrombie, Schatz to take on Aiona, Finnegan

HONOLULU—The primaries are done and the match-ups are set for November. Hawaii had a total turnout of 279,810 or 40.9 percent, with over 117,258 voting by absentee ballot.

The State Office of Elections has a full list of results from yesterday’s polling. Here’s a brief recap of some of the races:

Former Congressman Neil Abercrombie came out on top after months of heated campaigning against former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. In the coming days, the fierce mudslinging and low blows are going to be further examined and attributed to Hannemann’s loss for the Democratic nomination—blogger Ian Lind has his own take on what happened here. The victory for Abercrombie brings the issue of civil unions as a strong deciding factor for Hawaii residents come November. Abercrombie is a staunch supporter of civil unions while Republican nominee Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona is not.

Former Democratic Party Chairman Brian Schatz (D) took the hotly competitive lieutenant governor’s race in the primaries. Rep. Lynn Finnegan (R) won her respective race in the Republican primary for LG. Expect to see freshly pressed Abercrombie-Schatz and Aiona-Finnegan signs tied to your neighbors’ fences soon; and maybe a few bad Abercrombie & Fitch puns.

Hawaii’s Capitol Hill races saw Democratic incumbents take easy victories in the primaries. In the Democratic Senate primary, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) bested scuba instructor Andrew Woerner, Washington Post reports. The eight-term senator is expected to cruise over 2004 Republican nominee Cam Cavasso and three third-party candidates in November. And in the 2nd district, Rep. Mazie Hirono (D), who faced no primary opposition, will face John Willoughby (R), who beat Ramsay Wharton by about two hundred votes. Also as expected, State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa (D) and current Congressman Charles Djou (R) won their respective primaries and will face off in November.

Star-Advertiser’s Gene Park reported some key races in the Ledge. State Rep. Blake Oshiro, who authored last session’s House Bill 444, defeated Honolulu Councilman Gary Okino in the race for the State House District 33 seat, which represents Halawa and Aiea. City Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz defeated State Rep. Michael Magaoay and former legislator Gerald Hagino in the special election for the Senate District 22 seat, which represents Kaena, Wahiawa, and Pupukea.

Former Honolulu City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle took the special election for Honolulu Mayor with a majority of the vote by just edging out acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who arrived to Carlisle’s camp to congratulate him personally, KITV4 News reports.

Keith Kaneshiro (40 percent) topped Franklin Pacarro (30.6 percent) and Darwin Ching (14.9 percent) in the special election for Honolulu City Prosecutor.

The crowded Honolulu City Council District 6 race had Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo coming out on top with 27.1 percent of the vote. Sesnita Moepono had 16.5 percent. Honolulu’s District 6 covers a portion of Makiki, Downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl, Liliha, Pauoa Valley, Nuuanu, Alewa Heights, Papakolea, Kalihi Valley, and a portion of Kalihi.

John White (37.6 percent) topped Ernie Yorihiko (30.4 percent) in the the Honolulu City Council District 2 race. The seat is being left by Donovan Dela Cruz. District 2 covers Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village, Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Waimea, Pupukea, Sunset Beach, Kahuku, Laie, Hauula, Punaluu, Kahana, Kaaawa, Kualoa, Waiahole, Waikane, Kahaluu, Ahuimanu, and a portion of Heeia.

Visit the Star-Advertiser’s primary election results page for details on each race.