Hawaii gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014

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Hawaii Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election
Primary Date:
August 9, 2014
General Election Date:
November 4, 2014
Incumbent prior to election:
Neil AbercrombieDemocratic Party
Shan TsutsuiDemocratic Party
November 4 Election Winners:
David IgeDemocratic Party
Shan TsutsuiDemocratic Party
Gov. Neil Abercrombie
Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui
Hawaii State Executive Elections
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Governor • Lieutenant Governor
Current trifecta for Democrats
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State executive offices in Hawaii
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TheHawaii gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election took place onNovember 4, 2014. IncumbentNeil Abercrombie (D) ran for re-election but lost theDemocratic primary againststate Sen. David Ige on August 9. The race to replace Abercrombie featured the Democratic ticket of Ige andLt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, Republican candidatesDuke Aiona andElwin Ahu, theLibertarian Party ticket ofJeff Davis andCindy Marlin andIndependent Party candidatesMufi Hannemann andLes Chang. Ige and Tsutsuiwon concurrent four-year terms in the general election.

The race was rated a "toss-up" byThe Cook Political Report andGoverning, among numerous other political analysts and publications.[1][2] Learn more about developments in this race, including Abercrombie's primary defeat, in therace background section.

The gubernatorial contest was the only race on the November ballot likely to have shifted the partisan balance of power in Hawaii. Going into the 2014 elections, both chambers of thestate legislature and the governorship were held by the Democratic Party, making Hawaii astate government trifecta, or a single-party government. Learn more about the state's legislative races in 2014 on thebattleground chambers page.

Aprimary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.

Hawaii utilizes anopen primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[3]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, seethis article. The primary took place on August 9.

Candidates

General election

Republican PartyDuke Aiona/Elwin Ahu[4]
Democratic PartyDavid Ige/Shan TsutsuiGreen check mark transparent.png[5]
Libertarian PartyJeff Davis/Cindy Marlin[6]
Grey.pngIndependent Party candidatesMufi Hannemann/Les Chang[7]

Lost in the primary

Gubernatorial

Democratic PartyNeil Abercrombie -Incumbent[8]
Democratic PartyVan Tanabe[9]
Republican PartyCharles Collins - Retired businessman, artist, frequent candidate[9]
Republican PartyStuart Gregory - Frequent candidate[9]

Lieutenant gubernatorial

Democratic PartyClayton Hee - State Sen.[10]
Democratic PartySam Puletasi - State Medical Board Member[9]
Democratic PartyMiles Shiratori - Lifeguard, Real Estate Investor[9]
Democratic PartyMary Zanakis - Television documentary producer[11]
Republican PartyKimo Sutton[12]

Disqualified

Independent (nonpartisan)Misty Davis[13]
Independent (nonpartisan)Khistina Dejean[13]
Independent (nonpartisan)Richard Morse, Jr.[13]

Withdrawn

Independent (nonpartisan)Joe Spatola - Entertainer[13]

Results

General election

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, 2014
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    DemocraticGreen check mark transparent.pngDavid Ige/Shan Tsutsui49.5%181,065
    RepublicanDuke Aiona/Elwin Ahu37.1%135,742
    IndependentMufi Hannemann/Les Chang11.7%42,925
    LibertarianJeff Davis/Cindy Marlin1.7%6,393
Total Votes366,125
Election results viaHawaii Office of Elections

Primary election

Democratic primary

Gubernatorial
Governor of Hawaii, Democratic Primary, 2014
CandidateVote %Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Ige67.4%157,050
Neil AbercrombieIncumbent31.5%73,507
Van Tanabe1.1%2,622
Total Votes233,179
Election results viaHawaii Division of Elections.
Lieutenant gubernatorial
Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, Democratic Primary, 2014
CandidateVote %Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngShan TsutsuiIncumbent53.7%120,779
Clayton Hee36.1%81,255
Mary Zanakis8.1%18,174
Miles Shiratori1.2%2,593
Sam Puletasi0.9%2,126
Total Votes224,927
Election results viaHawaii Division of Elections.

Republican primary

Gubernatorial
Governor of Hawaii, Republican Primary, 2014
CandidateVote %Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngDuke Aiona97.2%41,832
Stuart Gregory1.5%640
Charles Collins1.3%580
Total Votes43,052
Election results viaHawaii Division of Elections.
Lieutenant gubernatorial
Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, Republican Primary, 2014
CandidateVote %Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngElwin Ahu70.6%27,678
Kimo Sutton29.4%11,511
Total Votes39,189
Election results viaHawaii Division of Elections.


Race background

Ige defeats Abercrombie

In theDemocratic primary election, state Sen.David Ige defeated Gov.Neil Abercrombie.[14][15][16] Prior to this primary, the last governor of Hawaii to lose a re-election campaign was Gov. William Francis Quinn (R) in 1962. Quinn lost to John Anthony Burns (D) in the general election.[17]

The week before the primary was held, aHonolulu Civil Beat poll of likely voters found Ige with 51 percent support to Abercrombie's 41 percent support.[18] Abercrombie was endorsed in the primary byPresidentBarack Obama (D). Ige was endorsed by former governors Ben Cayetano and George Ariyoshi.

ANew York Times article written two months before the primary election suggested that Abercrombie faced a more difficult re-election campaign due to his appointment of Lt. Gov.Brian Schatz (D) to the U.S. Senate in December 2012 following the death of Sen.Daniel Inouye (D). In a letter written before his death, Inouye requested the appointment ofRep.Colleen Hanabusa (D) to his seat. The article argued that this decision sparked "a backlash that threatens to topple both Mr. Schatz and the governor — who had already been struggling during an occasionally tumultuous first term — in the Democratic primary on Aug. 9."[19]

In the aftermath of the primary, Abercrombie attributed his defeat to his decision to call a special session to legalize gay marriage in November 2013. He claimed that Republican opponents voted for Ige in the open Democratic primary. "Republicans crossed over en masse to vote in the Democratic primary, and then the religious factor came in," Abercrombie said.

Ige supported Abercrombie's decision to call for the special session. A spokeswoman for Ige's campaign, Lynn Kenton, said, "every candidate has the freedom to comment on their campaign, regardless of the outcome, and if that's what Gov. Abercrombie feels was his weaknesses, that would be for him to determine."[20]

Debates

October 15 debate

David Ige (D),Duke Aiona (R), andMufi Hannemann (I) shared the stage during a debate sponsored byHawaii News Now and theHonolulu Star-Advertiser. Hannemann criticized Ige and fellow legislators for rising electrical costs and problems faced by the state's public schools. He argued that Hawaii voters should question whether Ige could lead the way after spending 29 years in the legislature as the problems Aiona had pointed to developed. Ige responded that legislators have to reach consensus on major issues and that he was "running for governor because I know I can't do it as a legislator...I have to be governor to make these things work."[21]

Ige asserted that Aiona was selective in referring to his past experience aslieutenant governor, taking credit for some policies of theLingle Administration while not associating himself with others. Aiona responded that voters could ask a similar question of Ige because he was running on a ticket with sittingLt. Gov.Shan Tsutsui.[21]

Republican primary
Debate for Republican candidates for lieutenant governor.

Polls

Hawaii Governor - General Election
PollDavid Ige (D)Duke Aiona (R)Mufi Hannemann (I)OtherUndecidedMargin of errorSample size
New York Times/CBS/YouGov
October 16-23, 2014		54%22%5%0%19%+/-61,002
Merriman River
October 16-19, 2014		40%34%11%6%8%+/-2.81,221
New York Times/CBS/YouGov
September 20-October 1, 2014		41%35%6%0%18%+/-41,319
Rasmussen
September 9-10, 2014		40%39%14%2%6%+/-4750
AVERAGES 43.75% 32.5% 9% 2% 12.75% +/-4.2 1,073
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email toeditor@ballotpedia.org.

Primary election

Governor of Hawaii - Democratic Primary
PollNeil Abercrombie*David IgeUndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Honolulu Civil Beat/Merriman River Group (Survey of likely voters)
July 24-28, 2014		41%51%8%+/-3.3895
Honolulu Civil Beat/Merriman River Group
June 7-9, 2014		37%48%15%+/-3.0729
Honolulu Civil Beat/Merriman River Group
February 12-15, 2014		37%37%26%+/-3.1643
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
February 1-11, 2014		47%38%14%+/-4.3528
AVERAGES 40.5% 43.5% 15.75% +/-3.43 698.75
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email toeditor@ballotpedia.org.

General Election Hypothetical Match-up

Three way match-up (includes Hannemann)
PollNeil Abercrombie* (D)Duke Aiona (R)Mufi Hannemann (I)UndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Honolulu Civil Beat/Merriman River Group
June 7-9, 2014		27%33%22%+/-3.01,078
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email toeditor@ballotpedia.org.
Abercrombie vs. Aiona
PollNeil Abercrombie* (D)Duke Aiona (R)UndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
February 1-11, 2014		40%48%12%+/-3.9642
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email toeditor@ballotpedia.org.

Lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Hawaii Lieutenant Governor, Democratic Primary
PollShan Tsutsui*Clayton HeeMary ZanakisMiles ShiratoriUndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Hawaii News Now Poll
July 2014		36%34%7%2%21%+/-4.6458
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email toeditor@ballotpedia.org.


Campaign media

Outside organizations

Hawaii Forward

Hawaii Forward ad: Closer
Hawaii Forward ad: Best

Republican Governors Association

RGA ad: Our Future

Past elections

2010

On November 2, 2010, Neil Abercrombie and Brian Schatz won election as Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. They defeated the Aiona/Finnegan (R), Cunningham/Spence (F) and Pollard/Kama (NP) ticket(s) in the general election.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, 2010
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    DemocraticGreen check mark transparent.pngNeil Abercrombie & Brian Schatz58.2%222,724
    Republican Duke Aiona & Lynn Finnegan41.1%157,311
    Free Energy Daniel Cunningham & Deborah Spence0.3%1,265
    Nonpartisan Tom Pollard & Leonard Kama0.3%1,263
Total Votes382,563
Election Results Via:Hawaii Office of Elections

Voter turnout

Political scientist Michael McDonald's United States Elections Project studied voter turnout in the 2014 election by looking at the percentage of eligible voters who headed to the polls. McDonald used voting-eligible population (VEP), or the number of eligible voters independent of their current registration status, to calculate turnout rates in each state on November 4. He also incorporated ballots cast for the highest office in each state into his calculation. He estimated that 81,687,059 ballots were cast in the 50 states plus theDistrict of Columbia, representing 35.9 percent of the VEP.[22] By comparison, 61.6 percent of VEP voted in the 2008 presidential election and 58.2 percent of VEP voted in the 2012 presidential election.[23]

Quick facts

  • According toPBS Newshour, voter turnout in the 2014 midterms was the lowest since the 1942 midterms, which took place during the nation's involvement in World War II.[24]
  • Forty-three states and the District of Columbia did not surpass 50 percent turnout in McDonald's analysis.
  • The three states with the lowest turnout according to McDonald's analysis wereTexas (28.3 percent),Tennessee (28.6 percent), andIndiana (28.8 percent).
  • Maine (58.5 percent),Wisconsin (56.5 percent), andColorado (54.5 percent) were the three states with the highest turnout.
  • Twelve states increased voter turnout in 2014 compared to the 2010 midterm elections.[25]
Voter turnout rates, 2014
StateTotal votes counted% voter eligible populationTop statewide office up for electionSize of lead (Raw votes)Size of lead (%)
Alabama1,191,27433.2Governor320,31927.2
Alaska285,43154.4Governor4,0041.6
Arizona1,537,67134.1Governor143,95112.5
Arkansas852,64240.1Governor118,66414.0
California7,513,97230.8Governor1,065,74817.8
Colorado2,080,07154.5Governor50,3952.4
Connecticut1,096,50942.5Governor26,6032.5
Delaware234,03834.4Attorney General31,15513.6
District of Columbia177,17635.8Mayor27,93419.0
Florida6,026,80243.3Governor66,1271.1
Georgia2,596,94738.5Governor202,6858.0
Hawaii369,55436.5Governor45,32312.4
Idaho445,30739.6Governor65,85214.9
Illinois3,680,41740.9Governor171,9004.9
Indiana1,387,62228.8Secretary of State234,97817.8
Iowa1,142,28450.2Governor245,54821.8
Kansas887,02343.4Governor33,0523.9
Kentucky1,435,86844.0U.S. Senate222,09615.5
Louisiana1,472,03943.8U.S. Senate16,4011.1
Maine616,99658.5Governor29,8204.9
Maryland1,733,17741.5Governor88,6486.1
Massachusetts2,186,78944.6Governor40,3611.9
Michigan3,188,95643.2Governor129,5474.3
Minnesota1,992,61350.5Governor109,7765.6
Mississippi631,85828.9U.S. Senate141,23433.0
Missouri1,426,30331.8Auditor684,07453.6
Montana373,83147.3U.S. Senate65,26217.9
Nebraska552,11541.5Governor97,67818.7
Nevada547,34929.0Governor255,79346.7
New Hampshire495,56548.4Governor24,9245.2
New Jersey1,955,04232.5N/AN/AN/A
New Mexico512,80535.7Governor73,86814.6
New York3,930,31029.0Governor476,25213.4
North Carolina2,939,76741.2U.S. Senate48,5111.7
North Dakota255,12845.0U.S. House At-large seat42,21417.1
Ohio3,149,87636.2Governor933,23530.9
Oklahoma824,83129.8Governor122,06014.7
Oregon1,541,78253.5Governor59,0294.5
Pennsylvania3,495,86636.0Governor339,2619.8
Rhode Island329,21242.2Governor14,3464.5
South Carolina1,261,61135.2Governor179,08914.6
South Dakota282,29144.9Governor124,86545.1
Tennessee1,374,06528.6Governor642,21447.5
Texas4,727,20828.3Governor957,97320.4
Utah577,97330.2Attorney General173,81935.2
Vermont193,08738.8Governor2,0951.1
Virginia2,194,34636.6U.S. Senate16,7270.8
Washington2,123,90143.1N/AN/AN/A
West Virginia451,49831.2U.S. Senate124,66727.6
Wisconsin2,410,31456.5Governor137,6075.7
Wyoming168,39039.3Governor52,70333.6

Note: Information from the United States Elections Project was last updated on December 16, 2014.

Campaign finance

General election

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of$5,726,295 during the election. This information was last updated on May 12, 2015.[26]

Campaign Contribution Totals
CandidateOfficeResultContributions
David Ige/Shan TsutsuiDemocratic PartyHawaii Governor/Lieutenant GovernorWon$3,507,799
Duke Aiona/Elwin AhuRepublican PartyHawaii Governor/Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$1,834,955
Mufi Hannemann/Les ChangGrey.pngHawaii Governor/Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$376,838
Jeff Davis/Cindy MarlinLibertarian PartyHawaii Governor/Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$6,703
Grand Total Raised$5,726,295

Gubernatorial primary election

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of$4,804,347 during the election. This information was last updated on May 12, 2015.[27]

Campaign Contribution Totals
CandidateOfficeResultContributions
Neil AbercrombieDemocratic PartyHawaii GovernorDefeated$4,801,394
Richard Morse, Jr.Grey.pngHawaii GovernorDefeated$1,531
Khistina DejeanGrey.pngHawaii GovernorDefeated$741
Stuart GregoryRepublican PartyHawaii GovernorDefeated$526
Joe SpatolaGrey.pngHawaii GovernorDefeated$155
Duke AionaRepublican PartyHawaii GovernorWon$0
David IgeDemocratic PartyHawaii GovernorWon$0
Charles CollinsRepublican PartyHawaii GovernorDefeated$0
Jeff DavisLibertarian PartyHawaii GovernorDefeated$0
Misty DavisGrey.pngHawaii GovernorDefeated$0
Mufi HannemannGrey.pngHawaii GovernorDefeated$0
Van TanabeDemocratic PartyHawaii GovernorDefeated$0
Grand Total Raised$4,804,347

Lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of$271,412 during the election. This information was last updated on May 12, 2015.[28]

Campaign Contribution Totals
CandidateOfficeResultContributions
Clayton HeeDemocratic PartyHawaii Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$186,988
Kimo SuttonRepublican PartyHawaii Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$77,393
Miles ShiratoriDemocratic PartyHawaii Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$6,230
Sam PuletasiDemocratic PartyHawaii Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$801
Elwin AhuRepublican PartyHawaii Lieutenant GovernorWon$0
Shan TsutsuiDemocratic PartyHawaii Lieutenant GovernorWon$0
Les ChangGrey.pngHawaii Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$0
Cindy MarlinLibertarian PartyHawaii Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$0
Mary ZanakisDemocratic PartyHawaii Lieutenant GovernorDefeated$0
Grand Total Raised$271,412

Key deadlines

DeadlineEvent
June 3, 2014Filing deadline
August 9, 2014Primary election
November 4, 2014General election
December 1, 2014Inauguration day for state executive officials in general election

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Hawaii + Governor + Election + 2014"

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑The Cook Political Report, "Governors Race Ratings 2014," September 15, 2014
  2. ↑Governing, "2014 Governors Races," September 10, 2014
  3. ↑Hawaii Legislature, "Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 12–31," accessed September 3, 2025
  4. ↑Cite error: Invalid<ref> tag; no text was provided for refs namedduke
  5. ↑Cite error: Invalid<ref> tag; no text was provided for refs namedige
  6. ↑Jeff Davis for Governor 2014 Official campaign website, "Meet Jeff," accessed February 18, 2014
  7. ↑Hawaii News Now, "Hannemann supporters reach goal, will Mufi run?" February 21, 2014
  8. ↑Neil Abercrombie for Governor 2014 Official Campaign Website, "Homepage," accessed September 3, 2013
  9. ↑9.09.19.29.39.4Hawaii Division of Elections, "2014 Primary Candidate List: Certified," printed June 10, 2014
  10. ↑Hawaii News Now, "Clayton Hee announces run for Lt. Governor," May 11, 2014
  11. ↑Mary Zanakis for Lieutenant Governor 2014 Official campaign website, "Homepage" accessed June 30, 2014
  12. ↑Kimo Sutton for Lieutenant Governor 2014 Official campaign website, "Homepage," accessed June 30, 2014
  13. ↑13.013.113.213.3West Hawaii Today, "Nonpartisans in Hawaii governor race disqualified," June 25, 2014
  14. ↑Real Clear Politics, "2014 Governor Races, Ratings Map," accessed June 30, 2014
  15. ↑Hawaii Division of Elections, "Primary Election 2014 Results - Final Summary Report," accessed May 7, 2021
  16. ↑Politico, "Schatz-Hanabusa race too close to call," August 10, 2014
  17. ↑Honolulu Civil Beat, "Ige Holds Healthy Lead Over Abercrombie in Hawaii Governor’s Race," June 12, 2014
  18. ↑Honolulu Civil Beat, "Civil Beat Poll: Ige Maintains Solid Lead Over Abercrombie," July 31, 2014
  19. ↑The New York Times, "A Disregarded Request From a Beloved Senator Shakes Up Hawaii’s Primary," June 29, 2014
  20. ↑USA Today, "Hawaii gov. blames political loss on gay marriage," August 30, 2014
  21. ↑21.021.1Hawaii News Now, "Final televised governor debate had winner and loser, analyst says," October 16, 2014
  22. ↑United States Elections Project, "2014 November General Election Turnout Rates," November 7, 2014
  23. ↑TIME, "Voter Turnout in Midterm Elections Hits 72-Year Low," November 10, 2014
  24. ↑PBS, "2014 midterm election turnout lowest in 70 years," November 10, 2014
  25. ↑U.S. News & World Report, "Midterm Turnout Down in 2014," November 5, 2014
  26. ↑Follow the Money, "Overview of Hawaii 2014 elections," accessed May 12, 2015
  27. ↑Follow the Money, "Overview of Hawaii 2014 elections," accessed May 12, 2015
  28. ↑Follow the Money, "Overview of Hawaii 2014 elections," accessed May 12, 2015
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