This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Hawaii was June 2, 2026.
This year is the first since 2014 that both of Hawaii’s U.S. House incumbents — Reps. Ed Case (D-1st) and Jill Tokuda (D-2nd) — are running in contested primaries. There was one incumbent in a contested primary in 2024, one in 2022, none in 2020, one in 2018, one in 2016, and none in 2014.
In total, two primaries — both Democratic — are contested this year. In total, there was one contested primary in 2024, four in 2022, three in 2020, three in 2018, three in 2016, and three in 2014.
Since both incumbents are running for re-election, no districts are open this year. There were no open districts in 2024, one in 2022, one in 2020, one in 2018, one in 2016, and one in 2014.
The 1st Congressional District has attracted the most candidates. Six candidates — Case, four other Democrats, and one Republican — are running for the district.
Eleven candidates — nine Democrats and two Republicans — are running for Hawaii’s two congressional districts. That’s 5.5 candidates per district. There were 2.5 candidates per district in 2024, 6.5 in 2022, 9.5 in 2020, 6.5 in 2018, six in 2016, and six in 2014.
Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in both districts, meaning no districts are guaranteed to either party.
Hawaii is holding U.S. House primaries on Aug. 8, 2026.
In Hawaii, the winner of a primary election is the candidate who receives the greatest number of votes, even if they do not win an outright majority of votes cast.
