In a stunning upset at Hawaii's recent Democratic primaries, House Speaker Scott Saiki lost the primary race for the House District 25 seat to Kim Coco Iwamoto, a progressive civil rights attorney and former school board member. Saiki, who has represented the urban district of Ala Moana, Kakaako, and downtown Honolulu since 1994, narrowly won against Iwamoto in the previous primary battles. However, this year, Iwamoto's campaign focused on criticizing Saiki's record on key issues such as condo insurance rates and the minimum wage, highlighting his alleged failure to adequately address the needs of his constituents.

If successful in the general election, Iwamoto will make history as the first openly transgender official to join the Hawaii House of Representatives. This landmark achievement further highlights the changing political landscape in the Aloha State.

In another surprising result, former Hawaii State Sen. Clayton Hee, backed by endorsements from three former governors, was defeated by fellow Democrat Ben Shafer in the race for District 23 representation. Hee campaigned on issues such as farming, sea level rise, and cesspools, but Shafer's strong support from unions, including the Hawaii State Teachers Association, proved crucial in securing the primary victory.

Shafer's win sets the stage for a closely watched general election battle against Republican State Sen. Brenton Awa, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary. The race between Shafer and Awa in one of Hawaii's few swing districts is expected to be fiercely competitive.

In the Democratic primary for the Hawaii State House's 37th District, State Rep. Trish La Chica emerged as the victor, defeating Ken Inouye, the son of the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. La Chica's campaign centered around educational issues, resonating with students, parents, and educators in Central Oahu. In contrast, Inouye focused on debates surrounding the cost of living and the future of retirees and younger generations.

Meanwhile, the late Rep. Mark Nakashima was posthumously declared the winner in the Democratic primary for Hawaii's 1st House District. Despite his passing on July 11, Nakashima remained on the ballot as the sole candidate, ensuring his victory by default. Hawaii Governor Josh Green will now appoint a replacement from a shortlist of three candidates provided by the Democratic Party.

On the mayoral front, Hawaii Island Mayor Mitch Roth secured approximately 39% of the votes in the primary but fell short of the 50% threshold needed for an outright victory, setting the stage for a runoff in the general election on November 5. Psychologist Kimo Alameda emerged as Roth's closest competitor, garnering around 28% of the vote. Unless the other candidates, Breeani Kobayashi and Junior Tupa'i, gain significant support, Roth and Alameda are expected to face each other in the runoff for the mayoral seat.

The outcomes of these races highlight the unpredictable nature of Hawaii's primary elections, with surprising upsets and close competitions at the local level. As voters look ahead to the general election, the focus now shifts to the strategies and platforms followed by the successful candidates in a bid to secure their place in Hawaii's political landscape.