2026 United States Senate special election in Cascade

*For related races, watch 2026 United States elections*

The **2026 United States Senate election in Cascade** was held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Incumbent one-term Senator Elizabeth Coin resigned, State Rep. Vera Kapetanovic was appointed to the seat. Kapetanovic then resigned as well after a few days. Finally, Congressman Thomas Duberry was appointed to the seat.

Coin then came back and challanged Duberry for the seat, where she was defeated in a landslide after he recieved the endorsement of all 3 major parties.

## Appointment

### First Appointment

Senator Elizabeth Coin retired after less than a year, forcing Cascade Democratic Party State Chair, Thomas Duberry to appoint a new Senator.

#### Final Nominee

* Vera Kapetanovic, Cascade State Rep (2023-) and Chair of the DSA

#### Other Candidates

* Claire Ardern, U.S Representative from CA-2 (2025-) and Chair of the FWC
* Hyojin Choi, Mayor of Baltimore (2025-) and 2024 Candidate for CA-2
* Jacob Johnson, Mayor of San Francisco (2023-)
* Harvey Fisch, Speaker of the House (2025-2026) from CA-1
* Jameson Woods, Governor of Cascade (2023-)

### Second Appointment

After Kapetanovic resigned, Thomas Duberry appointed himself to the seat after meeting with several candidates.

#### Final Nominee

* Thomas Duberry, Chair of the Green Party, U.S Representative from CA-3 (2025-) and Mayor of Honolulu (2023-2025)

#### Other Candidates

* Claire Ardern, U.S Representative from CA-2 (2025-) and Chair of the FWC
* Hyojin Choi, Mayor of Baltimore (2025-) and 2024 Candidate for CA-2

## Nominations

### Democratic Primary

#### Candidates

##### Nominee

* Thomas Duberry, United States Senator (2026-) Representative from CA-3 (2025-2026), Mayor of Honolulu (2023-2025), and Chair of the Green Party

##### Elimated in Primary

* Elizabeth Coin, United States Senator (2025) and United States Representative from CA-1 (2023-2025)

##### Declined

* Harvey Fisch, DNC Chair (2023-2024) and San Francisco District Attorney (2023-2025) (*Ran for Congress in CA-1*)
* Eli Golstein, United States Representative from CA-3 (2023-2025)

### Republican Primary

#### Candidates

The Republican Party failed to nominate anyone, instead endorsing Thomas Duberry.

##### Declined

* Harry Lo, Vice-Chair of the Progressive Republican Caucus and 2022 nominee for CA-2.
* Leon Salazar, Chair of the Progressive Republican Caucus and 2022 nominee for CA-3.

### Unity Convention

#### Nominee

* Thomas Duberry, United States Senator (2026-) Representative from CA-3 (2025-2026), Mayor of Honolulu (2023-2025), and Chair of the Green Party

##### Declined

* Everett McKeown, U.S Representative from CA-2 (2026-) (Ran in the Regular Election)

### Independents

#### Candidates

##### Nominee

* Elizabeth Coin, United States Senator (2025) and United States Representative from CA-1 (2023-2025) (Originally running as a Democrat)

## General election

### Political Violence

During the campaign, there was a fight in the city of San Francisco where both candidates held rallies at the same time. An Asian man supporting Duberry and a White woman supporting Coin were both sent to the hospital. They both sustained minor injuries and survived. Duberry and Coin condemed the fights.

### Endorsements

**U.S Senators*** Dianne Feinstein, former Senator from California

**U.S Representatives*** Claire Swift, former U.S Representative from Cascade's 2nd District (2025-2025) and 2026 Democratic Nominee for Erie Senate
* Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House from California
* Barbara Lee, fomer U.S Representative from California
* Katie Porter, fomer U.S Representative from California
* Adam Schiff, fomer U.S Representative from California

**Organizations*** ~~Democracy for All PAC~~ (Endorsement Revoked)

* John Shake, Vice President of the United States (2026-) *(Republican)*

**U.S Senators*** Lee Cross, United States Senator from Concord (2025-), DNC Chair, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court *(Democratic)*
* Brandon Bennet, U.S Senator from Chesapeake (2025-), Former DNC Chair
* Heidi Cruz, U.S Senator from Appalachia (2025-), Former DNC Chair, and 2026 Unity Nominee for Cascade Governor

**U.S Representatives*** Hyojin Choi, U.S Representative from Cascade's 2nd District (2026-) and 2024 Democratic Nominee for that same district
* Everett McKeown, U.S Representative from Cascade's 3rd District (2026-) and 2026 Unity Nominee for Cascade Senate
* Gears Braixen, U.S Representative from Magnolia's 2nd District (2025) and Governor of Concord (2025-2027) and Candidate for Concord's 2nd District *(Republican)*
* Eli Goldstein, Speaker of the House (2026-) and U.S Representative from Yellowstone's 2nd District (2025-) and Cascade's 3rd District (2023-2025)
* George Wit, U.S Representative from Appalachia's 2nd District *(Republican)*
* Jackson Burden, U.S Representative from Appalachia's 3rd District (2025-) *(Republican)*
* Fred Minion, U.S Representative from Chesapeake's 1st District (2023-) *(Republican)*
* Ethan Friedman, U.S Representative from Erie's 3rd District (2025-) *(Republican)*
* Andrew Reed, former Speaker of the House (2023-2025) and former U.S Representative from Amarillo's 1st District (2023-2025) *(Republican)*
* Vladik Kazakski, Secretary of Treasury (2026-) and U.S Representative from Yellowstone's 1st District (2025-) *(Republican)*
* John Kennedy, Governor of Yellowstone (2025) and Republican Nominee for Magnolia's 1st District *(Republican)*
* Mary Peltola, former U.S Representative from Alaska

**State Officeholders*** David Ige, former Governor of Hawaii *(Democratic)*
* Josh Greene, former Governor and former Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii *(Democratic)*
* Sylvia Luke, former Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii *(Democratic)*
* Samuel Freebart, former Lieutenant Governor of Cascade
* Les Gara, former Alaska State Senator

**Local Officals*** Franklin Gresham Jr, Boise City Council Member
* Rick Blangiardi, former Mayor of Honolulu *(Independent)*
* Cassandra Wang, Mayor of Honolulu (2026-)
* Keith Amemiya, Deputy Mayor of Honolulu *(Democratic)*
* Teng Hao, King County Executive (2027-)
* Sarah Jean, Mayor of Portland (2020-)

**Individuals*** John Payton, 2026 Candidate for Amarillo Senate and Bank President *(Republican) (Rejected)*
* Adrian Jones, 2026 Candidate for Appalachia Senate *(Republican)*
* Eleanor Annika Templeton, 2024 and 2026 Candidate for Magnolia Senate *(Democratic)*
* Daniela Olivera, 2026 Candidate for Amarillo's 3rd District
* Vicky Cayetano, former First Lady of Hawaii *(Democratic)*
* Andria Tupola, Chair of the Hawaii Unity Party (2026-)
* Arit Arun, Social Activist *(Democratic)*
* Mike Ter Matt, Economist *(Libertarian)*

**Organizations*** Republican Party of Cascade
* Democratic Party of Cascade
* Unity Party of Cascade
* Fighters for the Working Class
* Tea Party Caucus

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2. REDIRECT Template:Endorsements box===

## Notes / References

1. ↑ Gresham was later discovered to be an alt of John Kennedy
2. ↑ Duberry rejected Payton's endorsement after a series of controversial ads released by his PAC, attacking Elizabeth Coin and using transphobic slurs.