Who's In the Race

Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) faces Republican Brenton Awa in the Nov. 3 general election in Hawaii's 2nd District. ​

Tokuda is a U.S. representative who previously served in the Hawaii State Senate from 2006 to 2018, representing Kāneʻohe and Kailua. Awa has served in the Hawaii State Senate since 2022, representing District 23, and grew up in Kāʻaʻawa.

Both nominees ran in the Aug. 8 primaries; the race record shows each ran as the sole candidate in their party's primary.

What They Stand For

Tokuda has called healthcare a human right and pledged to fight for equitable healthcare legislation, according to her campaign website. She's also supported:

  • Access to quality mental-health services,
  • identifying affordability as a central issue; and
  • Combating climate change and protecting the environment.

Awa has proposed addressing jobs, housing, community safety, and affordability, according to his campaign website. He also discusses:

  • Climate change and the Jones Act,
  • Immigration and cost of living; and
  • Native Hawaiian issues, according to the Hawaiʻi Free Press.

The Money Behind the Race

Through July 19, Tokuda had raised about $821,000 and had about $570,000 in the bank, more than six times the cash on hand of Awa, who had raised about $123,000 and had about $16,000 on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Outside groups have spent $10 supporting Tokuda through Sept. 30, with Sierra Club Independent Action as the sole spender, according to the race's outside spending record.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball gave it the same rating as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections also called it "Solid Democratic" as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Democrats, whose nominee is Tokuda, a 95.94% chance of winning as of Oct. 14.

Tokuda won this district in both 2022 and 2024, taking about 59% and about 61% of the vote, respectively. Democrats won both of Hawaii's U.S. House seats in 2022 and again in 2024. In the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris carried Hawaii with about 60% of the vote.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article