Rejecting a policy to charge candidates $500 a minute to address delegates, the Democratic Party of Hawaii on Friday (May 25) announced that it will allow the two top U.S. Senate candidates to speak for free.

Statement from Party Chair Dante Carpenter:

There will be no paid rally time at the Democratic Party of Hawai`i State Convention this year. We will offer our two excellent U.S. Senate candidates time to give speeches with no cost involved.

Ed Case and Mazie Hirono will each have five minutes to address the convention, Ed on Saturday at  1:00 pm and Mazie on Sunday at 11:10 am. Our delegates expect to hear from both of them and so that’s how we will go forward.

The original concept was to raise needed funds to help cover the cost of the State Convention. Important as that may be, it pales in comparison to giving these great candidates a chance to address our delegates.

We thank Mazie Hirono’s campaign for their willingness to help with the rally time effort, but we will not ask them to contribute anything for time on Sunday.

Dante Carpenter