Hawaii Republicans have nominated Gary Cordery, owner of a contracting company, to challenge Democratic Gov. Josh Green for the state's governorship in the upcoming November election. Cordery secured the Republican nomination after defeating business owner Ken Fujiyama in Saturday's primary.
The race presents a significant challenge for Cordery, as Hawaii has not had a Republican governor since Linda Lingle concluded her term in 2010. The Cook Political Report rates the contest as Solid Democratic, with a Partisan Voting Index of D+13. Gov. Green also holds a considerable financial advantage, having raised approximately $3.5 million compared to Cordery's $313,000, according to Honolulu Civil Beat.
Despite the uphill battle, Cordery's platform centers on addressing Hawaii's high cost of living, reforming the education system, and combating corruption. He has pledged to create opportunities and abundance by adding 15,000 homes for working families, with prices ranging from $400,000 to $600,000. His proposal includes utilizing state-owned land for housing and streamlining the permitting process.
Cordery also proposes eliminating the state's General Excise Tax on food and medicine and freezing property taxes for retirees. He has criticized the state's management of taxpayer dollars, citing Hawaii's $20.5 billion budget for its 1.4 million residents as disproportionately large compared to other states.
Gov. Green, the incumbent, has maintained a 56% approval rating. Prior to the gubernatorial race, images of the impact of wildfires in Lahaina were prominent, with President Joe Biden visiting the devastated area alongside Gov. Green in August 2023.
