# 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial election

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The 2014 Hawaii gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of Hawaii, concurrently with a special election to Hawaii's Class III Senate Seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Primary elections were held on August 9, 2014. In Hawaii, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run in separate primaries and are then elected on the same ticket. Incumbent Democratic governor Neil Abercrombie ran for re-election to a second term in office, but was defeated by State Senator David Ige in the Democratic primary, making Abercrombie the first incumbent governor to lose renomination in Hawaii history. Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Shan Tsutsui was renominated.
The Republicans nominated former lieutenant governor Duke Aiona and pastor and former circuit court judge Elwin Ahu. Also running as an independent was former mayor of Honolulu Mufi Hannemann and former Honolulu parks and recreation director Les Chang. Ige and Tsutsui won the election. As of 2023, this election was the only time since 1994 that the winning gubernatorial nominee won the Hawaii gubernatorial election with only a plurality of the popular vote.

## Democratic primary
### Governor
#### Candidates

Declared
* Neil Abercrombie, incumbent governor
* David Ige, state senator
* Van K. Tanabe, candidate for governor in 2010
Declined
* Ed Case, former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006 and 2012

#### Endorsements

Individuals
* Barack Obama, President of the United States
Organizations
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1186
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1357
Individuals
* George Ariyoshi, former Governor
* Ben Cayetano, former Governor

#### Debates

* Complete video of debate, July 4, 2014 - YouTube

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Neil Abercrombie | David Ige | Other | Undecided |
| Ward Research | July 21–29, 2014 | 458 | ± 4.6% | 36% | 54% | — | 11% |
| Civil Beat | July 24–28, 2014 | 895 | ± 3.3% | 41% | 51% | — | 8% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 23–24, 2014 | 410 | ± ? | 39% | 49% | — | 12% |
| Civil Beat | June 7–9, 2014 | 729 | ± 3.6% | 37% | 48% | — | 15% |
| SMS Research* | March 24–April 25, 2014 | 1,402 | ± 2.6% | 42% | 28% | — | 30% |
| Civil Beat | February 12–15, 2014 | 643 | ± 3.9% | 37% | 37% | — | 26% |
| Ward Research | January 29–February 3, 2014 | 528 | ± 4.3% | 47% | 38% | — | 14% |
* * Internal poll for Neil Abercrombie campaign

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | David Ige | 157,050 | 66.01 |
| | Democratic | Neil Abercrombie (incumbent) | 73,507 | 30.09 |
| | Democratic | Van Tanabe | 2,622 | 1.01 |
| | Democratic | Blank vote | 4,614 | 1.94 |
| | Democratic | Over vote | 124 | 0.05 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 237,917 | 100.00 |

### Lieutenant governor

Brian Schatz won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in 2010 with 37% of the vote and was elected alongside Abercrombie. After the death of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye in December 2012, Abercrombie appointed Schatz to succeed him in the Senate. Schatz resigned as lieutenant governor and was succeeded by Shan Tsutsui, the president of the Hawaii Senate.

#### Candidates

Declared
* Clayton Hee, state senator, candidate for lieutenant governor in 2002 and candidate for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in 2006
* Shan Tsutsui, incumbent lieutenant governor

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Shan Tsutsui (incumbent) | 120,779 | 50.77 |
| | Democratic | Clayton Hee | 81,255 | 34.15 |
| | Democratic | Mary Zanakis | 18,174 | 7.64 |
| | Democratic | Miles Shiratori | 2,593 | 1.09 |
| | Democratic | Sam Puletasi | 2,126 | 0.89 |
| | Democratic | Blank vote | 12,850 | 5.04 |
| | Democratic | Over vote | 139 | 0.06 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 237,916 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Governor
#### Candidates

Declared
* Duke Aiona, former lieutenant governor and nominee for governor in 2010
Declined
* Charles Djou, former U.S. Representative (running for HI-01)
* Mufi Hannemann, Democratic former mayor of Honolulu, candidate for governor in 2010 and candidate for HI-02 in 2012 (running as an Independent)

### Endorsements

* Manny Pacquiao

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Duke Aiona | 41,832 | 94.77 |
| | Republican | Stuart Todd Gregory | 640 | 1.45 |
| | Republican | Charles (Trump) Collins | 580 | 1.31 |
| | Republican | Blank vote | 1,054 | 2.39 |
| | Republican | Over vote | 36 | 0.08 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,142 | 100.00 |

### Lieutenant governor
#### Candidates

Declared
* Elwin Ahu, pastor and former circuit court judge
* Warner "Kimo" Sutton, businessman
Declined
* David Chang, former chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Elwin Ahu | 27,678 | 62.07 |
| | Republican | Warner "Kimo" Sutton | 11,511 | 26.08 |
| | Republican | Blank vote | 4,921 | 11.15 |
| | Republican | Over vote | 32 | 0.07 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,142 | 100.00 |

## Libertarian nomination
### Governor
#### Candidates

Declared
* Jeff Davis, solar contractor and radio show host

#### Results

Libertarian primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Jeff Davis | 587 | 82.56 |
| | Libertarian | Blank vote | 124 | 17.44 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 711 | 100.00 |

### Lieutenant governor
#### Candidates

Declared
* Cynthia (Lahi) Marlin

#### Results

Libertarian primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Cynthia (Lahi) Marlin | 555 | 78.06 |
| | Libertarian | Blank vote | 156 | 21.94 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 711 | 100.00 |

## Hawaii Independent primary
### Governor
#### Candidates

Declared
* Mufi Hannemann, Democratic former mayor of Honolulu, candidate for governor in 2010 and candidate for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in 2012

#### Results

Independent Party primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Mufi Hannemann | 2,103 | 88.62 |
| | Independent | Blank vote | 269 | 11.34 |
| | Independent | Over vote | 1 | 0.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,373 | 100.00 |

### Lieutenant governor
#### Candidates

Declared
* Running mate: Les Chang, former Honolulu parks and recreation director

#### Results

Independent Party primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Les Chang | 1,370 | 57.73 |
| | Independent | Blank vote | 1,002 | 42.23 |
| | Independent | Over vote | 1 | 0.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,373 | 100.00 |

## No Party primary

Hawaii has strict criteria for independent candidates seeking to participate in the general election. Three of the four candidates were disqualified for not having a running mate. The other candidate also had no running mate, but had already withdrawn from the race. They all still appeared on the ballot, alongside a notice about their status.

### Candidates
#### Disqualified

* Misty Davis
* Khis Dejean Caldwell
* Richard Morse

#### Withdrew

* Joe Spatola

### Results

Independent primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Misty Davis | 201 | 18.03 |
| | Independent | Richard Morse | 98 | 8.79 |
| | Independent | Khis Dejean Caldwell | 85 | 7.62 |
| | Independent | Joe Spatola | 40 | 3.59 |
| | Independent | Blank vote | 687 | 61.61 |
| | Independent | Over vote | 4 | 0.36 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,115 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Debates

* Complete video of debate, September 26, 2014 - YouTube
* Complete video of debate, October 9, 2014 - YouTube
* Complete video of debate, October 15, 2014 - C-SPAN

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean D | November 3, 2014 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely D | November 3, 2014 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Lean D | November 3, 2014 |
| Real Clear Politics | Likely D | November 3, 2014 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | David Ige (D) | Duke Aiona (R) | Mufi Hannemann (I) | Other | Undecided |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | October 16–23, 2014 | 1,002 | ± 6% | 54% | 22% | 5% | 0% | 19% |
| Civil Beat | October 16–19, 2014 | 1,221 | ± 2.8% | 40% | 34% | 11% | 6% | 8% |
| Civil Beat | October 16–19, 2014 | 1,221 | ± 2.8% | 27% | 26% | — | — | 47% |
| Tarrance Group/RGA | October 2014 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 39% | 36% | 12% | 3% | 11% |
| Ward Research | October 11–18, 2014 | 605 | ± 4% | 47% | 35% | 12% | 1% | 6% |
| Global Strategy Group | October 3–8, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 45% | 33% | 10% | 2% | 10% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | September 20 – October 1, 2014 | 1,319 | ± 4% | 41% | 35% | 6% | 0% | 18% |
| Civil Beat | September 11–14, 2014 | 1,055 | ± 3% | 43% | 39% | 8% | 2% | 8% |
| Civil Beat | September 11–14, 2014 | 1,055 | ± 3% | 48% | 45% | — | — | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 9–10, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 40% | 39% | 14% | 2% | 6% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | August 18 – September 2, 2014 | 655 | ± 6% | 37% | 35% | 6% | 2% | 20% |
| Ward Research | July 21–29, 2014 | 612 | ± 4% | 34% | 41% | 15% | — | 10% |
| Civil Beat | June 7–9, 2014 | 1,078 | ± 3% | 31% | 31% | 17% | — | 21% |
| Ward Research | January 29 – February 3, 2014 | 642 | ± 3.9% | 34% | 51% | — | — | 15% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Neil Abercrombie (D) | Duke Aiona (R) | Mufi Hannemann (I) | Other | Undecided |
| Ward Research | July 21–29, 2014 | 612 | ± 4% | 30% | 45% | 14% | — | 11% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | July 5–24, 2014 | 1,083 | ± 3% | 37% | 40% | — | 14% | 7% |
| Civil Beat | June 7–9, 2014 | 1,078 | ± 3% | 27% | 33% | 18% | — | 22% |
| Ward Research | January 29 – February 3, 2014 | 642 | ± 3.9% | 40% | 48% | — | — | 12% |

### Results

2014 Hawaii gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | David Ige | 181,106 | 49.45% | −9.16% |
| | Republican | Duke Aiona | 135,775 | 37.08% | −4.31% |
| | Independent | Mufi Hannemann | 42,934 | 11.72% | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Jeff Davis | 6,395 | 1.75% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 366,210 | 100.00% | N/A |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |