Democrats Secure Reelection in Hawaiʻi as Tokuda and Case Win Congressional Seats

Hawaiʻi’s two Democratic incumbents sailed back to Washington on Tuesday with commanding victories, riding a national blue wave that handed Democrats control of both the House and Senate for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda crushed Republican challenger Brenton Awa 65.2% to 29.3% in the 2nd Congressional District, while U.S. Rep. Ed Case captured a fifth consecutive term with 70.2% against Adriel Lam’s 20.1%, according to Civil Beat’s tally of the second round of results from the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections.

The double-digit margins weren’t merely personal wins—they positioned Hawaiʻi’s delegation squarely within a new Democratic majority poised to check President Trump’s agenda during his final two years in office. By 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Democrats had been declared victors of 224 House seats and 54 Senate seats nationwide, giving the party the gavels and subpoena power to launch investigations into the administration.

Awa Concedes, Eyes Honolulu Mayor

Brenton Awa conceded the race soon after early returns showed Tokuda with a commanding lead, joking that “Hawaiʻi voters didn’t want to see me go.” Awa, who had pitched himself as a bridge to the Trump administration, suggested he may run for Honolulu mayor—a nonpartisan seat—in two years. Had he won, Awa would have been only the third Native Hawaiian to represent the islands in Congress since statehood.

Democrat U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda, left, and Republican Hawaiʻi State Senate Minority Leader Brenton Awa, right — Photo: hawaiipublicradio.org

Despite Awa’s ability to garner attention through social media and a resume that lent instant credibility, the race never lived up to national expectations. Tokuda ran a frontrunner’s campaign, barely engaging with Awa aside from a Civil Beat candidate forum in October where she appeared far better prepared. She leaned heavily on her congressional record, including her response to natural disasters and legislation reducing the tax burden on disaster survivors, notably victims of the 2023 Maui wildfires.

The $880,000 Fundraising Gap

Money told much of the story. Federal records show Tokuda’s campaign spent about $1 million during the election cycle compared to just $120,000 by Awa, who focused on a grassroots effort. While both candidates worried about outside money flooding the race given national Republicans’ fundraising advantages, those fears never materialized in Hawaiʻi.

Awa vowed to serve only a single two-year term to help the islands navigate Trump’s final two years, arguing that sending a Republican to Congress would give Hawaiʻi leverage in Washington. He said one way he could use that influence would be to pressure Trump allies to drop lawsuits targeting Native Hawaiian rights and entitlements, including a case arguing Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy is unconstitutional. Tokuda, meanwhile, told Hawaii Public Radio that voters wanted her back to address high gas and grocery prices, promising to push to suspend the federal gas tax and secure tariff rebates for consumers.

Candidates Debate Native Hawaiian Lease Inheritance Rules

The candidates also clashed over Hawaiian Home Lands succession rules. Both want to reduce the blood quantum requirement for leaseholders to pass leases to heirs from one-fourth Native Hawaiian to 1/32nd, allowing more families to keep homes in trust. Tokuda said it was safer to wait until Democrats controlled at least one chamber to push the issue, given that Native Hawaiian rights are under attack from the Trump administration. Awa said he would make the reform a priority immediately, claiming his relationships with the Trump administration would help him pass it.

Case Warns Against Going “Hog Wild”

Ed Case, 74, faced a feisty primary challenge from state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole in August but had a clear run to another term representing urban Oʻahu. A moderate Democrat and member of the House Appropriations Committee, Case built his campaign on his experience in Washington and his role in deciding how federal dollars are spent. He anticipates Democrats will launch congressional inquiries into the administration and use their bully pulpit to amplify their message, and said he would support impeachment again if the facts called for it.

But he warned his party to use their newfound power responsibly, harkening back to the 2018 wave election. “Inside two elections we had given the majority away again,” Case said. “I’m going to try to make sure that doesn’t happen. We need to come up with actual solutions that are widely supported.”

With Democrats now holding both chambers, Hawaiʻi’s two representatives will return to Congress in 2027 as members of the majority party, seeking to provide a check on President Trump during his final two years in office.