Veteran Bob McDermott wins 6-way GOP primary to face Mazie Hirono for Senate in deep-blue Hawaii
Six Republican hopefuls faced off in the primary to challenge Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono in November.
Former Hawaii state lawmaker and Marine Corps veteran Bob McDermott has clinched the Republican Senate primary in Hawaii, according to the Associated Press. The win sets him on a course to face off against incumbent Senator Mazie Hirono in the general election later this year.
McDermott's path to the Republican nomination began with a narrow victory in his initial campaign for the Hawaii House of Representatives, where he secured his seat by a margin of approximately 150 votes, as noted on his campaign website. This time around, McDermott was the sole candidate featured on the Senate GOP campaign arm's website, indicating a unified front within the state's Republican Party.
However, his financial resources tell a different story. Campaign finance data paints a picture of a significant fundraising disadvantage compared to his future opponent. As of July, McDermott had raised just under $2,500 in individual contributions and enters the general election with a modest sum of about $10 cash on hand.
In contrast, the crowded six-way primary saw candidates running largely low-key campaigns, a far cry from the millions invested in incumbent Senator Hirono's campaign. Hirono, who was born in Japan and first elected to the Senate in 2012, is seeking her third term. According to campaign finance data, her 2024 campaign has benefited from substantial financial support, having raised over $3 million in individual donations. This has left her with a substantial war chest of more than $2.3 million cash on hand as she heads into the final stretch of the election.
Prior to her Senate career, Hirono served as the lieutenant governor of Hawaii and represented the state in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms. Her extensive political experience, coupled with Hawaii's strong Democratic leanings, positions her as the favorite to emerge victorious in the general election.
While Hirono is expected to retain her seat, her victory will be particularly significant for Democrats as they strive to maintain their fragile majority in the Senate. With Hawaii's congressional delegation, consisting of two senators and two House members, already firmly Democratic, and the state's governor's office and legislature under Democratic control, Hirono's re-election would further solidify the party's foothold in the state.
As key primaries in four states draw closer on Tuesday, the stage is set for pivotal showdowns in November that will ultimately shape the composition of the Senate and House for the next two years. The outcome of these elections will have lasting implications for the country's political landscape and the Biden administration's ability to govern effectively.
McDermott's path to the Republican nomination began with a narrow victory in his initial campaign for the Hawaii House of Representatives, where he secured his seat by a margin of approximately 150 votes, as noted on his campaign website. This time around, McDermott was the sole candidate featured on the Senate GOP campaign arm's website, indicating a unified front within the state's Republican Party.
However, his financial resources tell a different story. Campaign finance data paints a picture of a significant fundraising disadvantage compared to his future opponent. As of July, McDermott had raised just under $2,500 in individual contributions and enters the general election with a modest sum of about $10 cash on hand.
In contrast, the crowded six-way primary saw candidates running largely low-key campaigns, a far cry from the millions invested in incumbent Senator Hirono's campaign. Hirono, who was born in Japan and first elected to the Senate in 2012, is seeking her third term. According to campaign finance data, her 2024 campaign has benefited from substantial financial support, having raised over $3 million in individual donations. This has left her with a substantial war chest of more than $2.3 million cash on hand as she heads into the final stretch of the election.
Prior to her Senate career, Hirono served as the lieutenant governor of Hawaii and represented the state in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms. Her extensive political experience, coupled with Hawaii's strong Democratic leanings, positions her as the favorite to emerge victorious in the general election.
While Hirono is expected to retain her seat, her victory will be particularly significant for Democrats as they strive to maintain their fragile majority in the Senate. With Hawaii's congressional delegation, consisting of two senators and two House members, already firmly Democratic, and the state's governor's office and legislature under Democratic control, Hirono's re-election would further solidify the party's foothold in the state.
As key primaries in four states draw closer on Tuesday, the stage is set for pivotal showdowns in November that will ultimately shape the composition of the Senate and House for the next two years. The outcome of these elections will have lasting implications for the country's political landscape and the Biden administration's ability to govern effectively.