Ed Case Beats Progressive Challenger in Hawaii House Primary

Rep. Ed Case, a moderate Democrat, turned back a progressive challenge on Saturday to keep his party's nomination in Hawaii's first congressional district.

With 91% of votes counted, Case had 60% of the vote to 36.1% for state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, according to the Associated Press. Case, 73, has represented the district, which covers urban Honolulu, since 2019.

"I feel very grateful that the voters want me to continue in office," Case told Hawaii Public Radio on Saturday. He will face Adriel Lam, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, in the general election.

Keohokalole, 43, had campaigned on the argument that Hawaii needed a new generation of political leadership. "The voters decided, and we respect the results," he told KHON2. "The seats don't belong to any individual. You have to earn them, and so the voters spoke."

The outcome runs against a run of progressive victories in high-profile Democratic primaries in recent months, including Abdul El-Sayed's win in Michigan this week. Attention turns next week to Wisconsin, where democratic socialist Francesca Hong is leading the party's gubernatorial primary.

Case drew criticism from Democrats, Keohokalole among them, for voting last year for President Donald Trump's Save Act, which would require voters to prove their citizenship when registering for federal elections. Case has since said he no longer supports the bill, after an option allowing voters to attest in writing to their citizenship was removed. He cast the vote as evidence of his independence.

"I'm not 100% voter with my party," Case told HawaiiNewsNow. "Never have been, never will be."

Case holds a senior position on a key spending committee and argued that Hawaii would draw fewer federal dollars without him in the seat. Keohokalole pointed to Case's business donations to argue he had lost touch with voters.

In the state's second district, which covers everything outside Honolulu, Rep. Jill Tokuda won her Democratic primary with 91.6% of the vote with 90% counted, AP reported. Gov. Josh Green, in office since 2022, also defeated several challengers for the Democratic nomination.

Reuters contributed reporting.