2026 Elections Guide

Essential information, candidate positions, news stories and more.

Hawaiʻi voters will go to the polls on Nov. 3 along with the rest of the nation. But the ballot will be considerably smaller than in August when voters decided many races that now won’t appear on the general election ballot.

The state’s two congressional seats are still at the top of the ballot followed by the governor and lieutenant governor, which are statewide seats. In the Legislature, many seats were uncontested and others were won outright in the Aug. 8 primary, leaving 30 state House seats and five state Senate seats to be decided by voters in the general election. A sixth Senate seat, in Senate District 18 where Michelle Kidani retired earlier this year, will be decided on Nov. 3 in a special election concurrent with the general.

Also still to be decided in November are five seats on the board of trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, two Honolulu City Council districts, the Maui and Kauaʻi mayors’ positions, all seven Kauaʻi County Council seats, eight spots on the Maui council and three Big Island seats.

We’ll be making another push for candidates in every race to respond to our candidate surveys and we’ll continue to publish those in our Candidate Q&A section as they come in. They are also linked on our general election ballot, located in the tab above. Readers have found those to be invaluable when they sit down to fill out their ballots.

We’re covering as many races as we can, including stories on candidates, their campaigns and finances and of course any breaking news and political twists. Hot races still drawing a lot of attention — and campaign cash — include the Maui mayor and the Kauaʻi mayor plus a handful of legislative districts. Look for that in our Elections 2026 section.

Honolulu voters will also be asked to weigh in on 20 questions aimed at revamping the Honolulu City Charter, including whether to establish a ranked choice voting system, restrict police immigration enforcement actions, creating new city cultural offices, bolstering affordable housing policies and numerous other topics.

Maui voters also will have a number of ballot propositions to address. We’ll add more info on both Maui and Honolulu ballot measures to our general election ballot and our elections coverage section as it develops.

Key Dates For The Hawaiʻi General Election

Oct 16

Voters receive their General Election mail ballot packet

Oct 20

Voter service centers open

Oct 27

Deadline to request an absentee ballot

Nov 3

General Election

Where To Find Out More

The Hawaiʻi Office of Elections website is the best place to find basic information you need about the elections, including how and when to register, how to find your polling place and when you can begin casting your ballot.

Meanwhile, here are some other resources we’ve put together to help you through the 2026 elections:

Hawaiʻi’s 2026 elections are right around the corner and Civil Beat’s elections guide is here to help with essential information, candidate positions, news stories and more.

Find Your Districts

This map from the state Office of Elections shows the congressional, senatorial, representative and council district boundaries.

Track Your Ballot

Hawaiʻi voters can enroll for ballot notifications ahead of the 2026 elections. Voters who sign up will be notified about the status of their mail ballot either through text, email or a phone message.

Voters who choose not to sign up for ballot notifications will still be able to track their ballot by going to elections.hawaii.gov or by contacting their County Elections Division.

Voter Education

Get information and help from these organizations:

Campaign Finance Resources

Both the state and the federal government impose contribution limits when giving directly to candidates. Money has been flowing to candidates and political committees for the 2026 elections. You can follow the money yourself on a number of online campaign and political sites:

Federal Candidates and Committees:

State Candidates and Committees:

Elections Offices Statewide

These offices oversee the elections in Hawaiʻi:

Political Parties

Latest Stories

Pro-Choice, Anti-Abortion Mainlander Seeks Oʻahu Congress Seat
Nathan Berning

Pro-Choice, Anti-Abortion Mainlander Seeks Oʻahu Congress Seat

Nathan Berning doesn’t live in Hawaiʻi, but he’s running for Congress here so he can push an anti-abortion agenda.

Central Maui Election Will Bring A New Face To The Council
Erin Nolan/Civil Beat/2026

Central Maui Election Will Bring A New Face To The Council

Marvin Moniz is running against Ashley Awakea Lindsey to fill the seat long held by Council Chair Alice Lee.

Should City Boards Allow Non-Citizens And Loosen Quorum Rules?
David Croxford

Should City Boards Allow Non-Citizens And Loosen Quorum Rules?

Two Honolulu charter amendments could bring changes to dozens of city boards and commissions.

Future Maui Development? Kahului Council Candidates Hold Opposing Views
Marina Riker/Civil Beat/2022

Future Maui Development? Kahului Council Candidates Hold Opposing Views

Carol Lee Kamekona is trying to unseat Kauanoe Batangan on the Maui County Council in the Nov. 3 general election.

Kaua‘i Needs More Affordable Housing. Council Candidates Have Ideas
Civil Beat/2026

Kaua‘i Needs More Affordable Housing. Council Candidates Have Ideas

The 14 candidates want policy and property tax changes to help local families stay on the island.

Honolulu Council: Former Member Faces Opponent Who Embraces Conspiracies
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Honolulu Council: Former Member Faces Opponent Who Embraces Conspiracies

East Honolulu voters have starkly different candidates to choose from as they decide who to entrust as one of the island’s nine council members.

Hawaiʻi’s Elections Watchdog Drags Supreme Court Into Its Drama
Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2026

Hawaiʻi’s Elections Watchdog Drags Supreme Court Into Its Drama

They have not convened since June 10, and it’s an election year. The state Supreme Court will hear arguments in a lawsuit Friday.

How Can Kauaʻi Be More Resilient? Where 14 Council Candidates Stand
Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2026

How Can Kauaʻi Be More Resilient? Where 14 Council Candidates Stand

The candidates vying for the seven seats this election have their sights on policies and funding to ensure the county is ready for future disasters.

Hawaiʻi’s Ed Case Wants Dems To Take On Trump — Cautiously
Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026

Hawaiʻi’s Ed Case Wants Dems To Take On Trump — Cautiously

All but assured another term, the congressman is campaigning and plotting a future where Democrats “come up with actual solutions.”

Candidate Q&A: State Senate District 18 – Kelly Kitashima

Candidate Q&A: State Senate District 18 – Kelly Kitashima

“Fully support expanding vocational, building trades and healthcare pathways. Also, improving the aging facilities and create cutting edge classrooms.”