Robert Charles McDermott (born August 5, 1963)[1] is an American politician andRepublican former member of theHawaii House of Representatives who served from 1996 to 2002 and 2012 to 2022.
McDermott made headlines in 2013 for his vocal opposition tosame-sex marriage. It ultimately became law in Hawaii, and Bob McDermott turned his focus on Pono Choices, a sex education program in Hawaii.[3] On January 8, 2014, McDermott held a press conference in opposition to Pono Choices in which he gave a presentation onoral sex,vaginal sex, andanal sex, in contrast with what he said the program teaches.[4]
In July 2022, McDermott said he was the first elected official to call for closure of the U.S. military'sRed Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility, which he identified as the biggest issue facing Hawaii. He has criticized Hawaii's congressional delegation for slowness to take action, saying he would have done so safely within a year and a half.[5]
On March 14, 2016, during a debate over the state budget, McDermott yelled profanities at fellow Republicans for not volunteering time to him as he was at the limit of his allotted time. McDermott told his colleagues to "start acting like (expletive) Republicans" and "do your (expletive) job."[8]
McDermott made headlines again in March 2017 after votingBeth Fukumoto out of her position as House Minority Leader, saying that her criticisms ofDonald Trump and attendance at theWomen's March were only to gain publicity for herself.[9]
1996 – When Democratic RepresentativeRobert Bunda ran forHawaii Senate and left the House District 32 seat open, McDermott was unopposed for the September 21, 1996, Republican Primary, winning with 304 votes,[10] and won the November 5, 1996, general election with 2,483 votes (53.5%) against Democratic nominee Leonard Pepper.[11]
1998 – McDermott was unopposed for the September 19, 1998, Republican Primary, winning with 304 votes,[12] and won the November 3, 1998, general election with 2,796 votes (54.9%) against Democratic nominee Wilfred Tangonan.[13]
2000 – McDermott was unopposed for the September 23, 2000, Republican Primary, winning with 785 votes,[14] and won the November 7, 2000, general election with 2,686 votes (56.4%) against Democratic nominee Eddie Aguinaldo.[15]
2002 – Expecting to challenge incumbent Democratic United States RepresentativePatsy Mink forHawaii's 2nd congressional district seat, McDermott won the September 21, 2002, Republican Primary with 20,180 votes (49.5%);[16] Mink had been hospitalized after announcing her re-election candidacy, and died the week after the primary, but too late to be replaced on the general election ballot; she was elected posthumously in the four-wayNovember 5, 2002 General election. McDermott did not run in the November 30, 2002, Special election to succeed her in the interim, as an election to fill the remainder of her term was scheduled for January 4, 2003.
2003 – McDermott ran in the 91-candidate Special election on January 4 to succeed Congresswoman Mink, but lost toEd Case,[17] who had won the interim special election, and held the seat until 2007.
2012 – With Democratic RepresentativeSharon Har redistricted to District 42, McDermott was unopposed in District 40's August 11, 2012, Republican Primary, winning with 754 votes.[18] He won the November 6, 2012, general election with 3,249 votes (48.8%) againstDemocratic nominee Chris Manabat,[19] who had won the six-way Democratic Primary in a field which included former Representative Romy Mindo.
2014 – McDermott beat Democratic candidateRose Martinez, 60.0% to 36.4%.[20]
2016 – McDermott won against Democratic candidate Rose Martinez, 54.6% to 38.5%.[21]
2018 – McDermott defeated Democratic candidate Rose Martinez, 53.4% to 42.3%.[22]
2020 – McDermott beat Democratic candidate Rose Martinez, 55.7% to 40.4%.[23]
2022 – McDermott won the 5-way Republican primary for U.S. Senator from Hawaii with 25,557 votes (31.9%). He faced incumbent SenatorBrian Schatz in the November general election and lost the election by a 45% margin. Democratic candidate Rose Martinez won McDermott's former seat, 49.5% to 46.4%, against Republican Janie Gueso.[24]
2024 – McDermott won the 6-way Republican primary for U.S. Senator from Hawaii with 27,961 votes (44.9%). He lost to incumbent senatorMazie Hirono in the November general election.[25][26]
