The2010 Hawaii gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2010, to elect the nextgovernor andlieutenant governor of Hawaii. IncumbentRepublican governorLinda Lingle was term-limited and not eligible to run for re-election. The Democratic Party nominatedNeil Abercrombie, and the Republican Party nominated incumbent lieutenant governorDuke Aiona. In the election, Abercrombie won and was sworn in as the state's 7th governor on December 6, 2010.[1] Aiona later unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Hawaii in2014 and2022.
As of 2024, this was the last time the Republican candidate for governor received over 40% of the vote in Hawaii.
This marked the first time since1966 where both the governor and lieutenant governor of Hawaii werewhite and the first time both were born outside of Hawaii.
Eleven candidates ran for their political parties' nominations in the lieutenant governor primary election on September 18: seven Democrats, two Republicans, one independent, and oneFree Energy Party candidate.[1]
Robert Bunda, 63, state legislator since 1983: state representative from 1983 until 1994 andsenator from 1994 until 2010;[1] president of the Hawaii Senate for five years. Resigned from office to run for lieutenant governor.[1]
Gary Hooser, 56, former state senator fromKauaʻi. Campaign based largely on support of civil unions.[1]
Jon Riki Karamatsu, 35, state legislator first elected in 2002 to represent theWaipahu area; chairman of the state House Judiciary Committee[1]
Norman Sakamoto, 63, sitting state senator first elected in 1996 to represent theKalihi,Salt Lake, and Pearl Ridge neighborhoods ofHonolulu; chairman of the state Senate Education and Housing Committee; opponent of civil unions[1]
Brian Schatz, 37, former state legislator and former chairman of the Hawaiian Democratic Party. Resident of Honolulu.[1]
Deborah Spence, no age provided, campaigns for the revival ofhemp, which she calls the "mostutilitarian plant", for use as acellulose andbiofuel. Resident ofHilo.[1]
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