Rep. Ed Case, a longtime Democratic incumbent from Hawaii, has won his primary election, defeating progressive state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole. The victory comes amid a broader internal party dynamic between the Democratic establishment and its progressive wing.
Case, who previously served in the House from 2002 to 2007 and was re-elected in 2018, faced his most substantial primary contest to date. Keohokalole, a member of the Hawaii state legislature since 2014, represented a notable challenge from the left flank of the party.
During the campaign, Keohokalole criticized Case's record, particularly his vote on an early iteration of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in April 2025. This version of the bill proposed federal voter ID requirements and proof of citizenship for voter registration, though it allowed for an affidavit in lieu of documentation. Case has stated he would not vote in lockstep with his party on such matters, describing the concerns about election security as legitimate but suggesting the proposed solutions addressed a non-existent problem. He later joined most House Democrats in opposing a revised version of the bill.
Keohokalole also challenged Case on his stance regarding the Trump administration's federal immigration operations during Trump's presidency. While both candidates raised significant funds, Case entered the race with a larger campaign war chest.
Hawaii's 1st Congressional District, which includes part of Oahu and Honolulu, is considered a safe Democratic seat, with a Cook Political Report rating of D+13. Case will now advance to face Republican Adriel Lam in the November general election.