2010 United States Senate election in Hawaii


The 2010 United States Senate election in Hawaii took place on November 2, 2010 concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The primary elections were held on September 18, 2010. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and President pro tempore Daniel Inouye won re-election to his ninth term.

Background

Hawaii last elected a Republican Senator in 1970, and its current delegation to the United States Congress currently consists entirely of Democrats. Democrats have also won Hawaii's electoral votes in every presidential election since Ronald Reagan's landslide election in 1984. The exceptions at the time were then-Governor Linda Lingle and then-U.S. Representative Charles Djou, both of whom are Republicans.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

Candidates

Campaign

The death of longtime U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd allowed Inouye to become the President pro tempore and Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. He made no apologies for bringing home as much federal money as he can, despite Republican insistence that the U.S. government taxes and spends too much, a stance he calls a "nice gimmick." The Maui News endorsed his re-election.
Cavasso, the 2004 nominee, is running again and won the Republican primary again. He is running on a platform of change and is emphasizing the need for a balanced budget. Inouye, who defeated Cavasso in 2004 by 52 percentage points, released TV ads that refer to him simply as "Dan". The senator is said to be "working" for Hawaii's transportation, high-tech economy, education and other needs.

Polling

Poll sourceDaniel
Inouye 		John
Roco 		OtherUndecided
June 24, 2010500± 4.5%68%20%3%8%

Poll sourceDaniel
Inouye 		Cam
Cavasso 		OtherUndecided
October 13, 2010500± 4.5%53%40%3%4%
October 2–3, 20101326± 2.7%65%29%—6%

Fundraising

Results