Hawaii Gov. Josh Green wins Democratic primary against challengers

Democratic Hawaii Gov. Josh Green defeated three little-known primary challengers seeking to lead the Aloha State.

Green, who was first elected governor in 2022, entered the unusual Saturday primary with a 56% approval rating. His primary win makes him a strong favorite for re-election, as the Cook Political Report rates the race 13 points in favor of the Democratic Party.

Green’s opponents were David “Duke” Bourgoin, George “Teva” Lucas-Tadeo, a Democratic socialist, and Lauren Kapoliahiʻiaka Shim.

Bourgoin previously ran against Green for governor in 2022, but he captured only 590 votes compared with Green’s 158,161. He also lost two bids for Honolulu mayor, in 2022 and 2024.

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Despite the growing popularity of Democratic Socialists across the country, Lucas-Tadeo failed to win over Hawaii Democrats with public Instagram posts promising publicly run grocery stores and the legalization of marijuana.

Neither Lucas-Tadeo nor Shim had campaign websites, and none of Green’s three challengers had raised any money in the race as of June 30, according to Honolulu Civil Beat. Meanwhile, Green had raised approximately $3.5 million, far outpacing Republican Gary Cordery, the race’s second-highest fundraiser, who had raised about $313,000, according to Civil Beat.

Hawaii has not had a Republican governor since Linda Lingle left office in 2010. In typical election years, the Democratic primary attracts candidates with strong name recognition. For instance, in 2022, the candidates besides Green included Rep. Kai Kahele, D-Hawaii, and former first lady Vicky Cayetano.

“His policies have been fairly popular, there hasn’t been anything he’s done that’s really created a pushback,” John Hart, a communication professor at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, told Civil Beat. “So, why would you throw your hat in the ring on a suicide run when there are other offices that are more achievable?”

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Meanwhile, Green told Civil Beat that his administration responded effectively to the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, which killed 102 people, and flooding from the March Kona low storms, which caused more than $1 billion in damage.

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“We were very present and I think pretty competent and compassionate in our response and we heard from a lot of people — both politicians and just, people — that they appreciated that,” Green told Civil Beat.

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“It just didn’t create a scenario in which another Democrat thought it made sense to run against us,” Green continued. “I didn’t set out to get into fights with people, I really just tried to do this job. So, It didn’t create the usual opening where there was a big divide where people would come after me.”