Newcomer Prevails in Hawaii’s Primary

Mary Bitterman, a former Voice of America director seeking her first elective office, beat two other Democrats in Hawaii’s state primary and will face first-term Republican Rep. Patricia Saiki in November, election returns showed Sunday.

In another race, former Democratic City Councilwoman Marilyn Bornhorst won the right to face Republican Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi after defeating three other former council members and a community activist in Saturday’s election.

U.S. Sen. Spark M. Matsunaga, 71, had an easy time with his little-known Democratic opponent, Honolulu writer Bob Zimmerman. Matsunaga garnered 180,853 votes, or 82%, to Zimmerman’s 27,360, or 12%, and faces Libertarian candidate Ken Schooland in the general election.