Hawaii primary vote puts Ige, Case on top

HONOLULU — Despite a challenging first term marked by both natural and man-made disasters, Hawaii Gov. David Ige won the Democratic primary in his bid for a second term in office Saturday, defeating Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

Ige’s administration fumbled through a false missile alert that sent the state into a panic in January, a major embarrassment for his administration. But the governor’s handling of Kilauea volcano’s latest eruption, which destroyed more than 700 homes and displaced thousands, as well as devastating flooding on Kauai got him back on track and he came out ahead of Hanabusa.

“It’s been a grueling campaign,” Ige said. “It’s truly a heart-warming finish to a very, very challenging and exciting time.”

Ige said he expects to win the general election in November, but he’s not going to take his challenger for granted. He’ll face State House Minority Leader Andria Tupola, who won the GOP nomination.

Hanabusa, who gave up her seat in Congress to challenge Ige, thanked the people that worked on her campaign. “You’ve given me everything,” she said.

Former Rep. Ed Case emerged from a crowded field to win the Democratic Party primary in the hopes of filling Hanabusa’s spot in Congress.

The 65-year-old fiscal conservative defeated five other major candidates including Lt. Gov. Doug Chin, who is the architect of Hawaii’s legal battle against President Trump’s travel ban.

He’ll face Cam Cavasso, a former state representative who previously ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate. The winner of the Democratic primary is almost guaranteed to win in the general election in Hawaii.