Our Civil Beat poll called the Democratic U.S. Senate race too close to call. True to form, voters we caught up at the polls were split between Hirono and Case.

“It was a hard choice,” said Nuuanu resident Connie Eder, a Democrat in her 50s. “But I like the difference between him and Mazie Hirono. We really do need a fresh perspective in Washington. If you want change, you have to vote for change.”

Waimanalo resident Carol Plummer, 60, said she went “back and forth” before voting for Hirono. 

“I’m from Big Island, so I knew Ed’s work from before,” she said. “And I know he’s a hard worker. But I voted for Mazie because I think she has a much better chance to win.”

But other Democratic voters said that Hirono was their clear choice.

One Democratic Waimanalo resident, 29-year-old Bryan Costa, called Case a “Republican in disguise.”

Enchanted Lake resident Shannon Kaopua, a 44-year-old plumbing contractor, had no love for Case either.

“I can’t stand Ed Case,” he said. “Ed Case disheartened himself with a lot of Hawaiians. The damage that he did, it’s hard to repair. They remember. I just don’t like the fact that he comes on TV asking what she’s done when he hasn’t…I’ve always thought that if you get voted out, go back to your regular job.”

— Alia Wong