Stage Set for Hawaii to Elect 1st Female Governor; Rep. Mink Wins Primary

Voters chose Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono by a razor-thin margin to face well-financed Republican Linda Lingle in November in a race to become Hawaii’s first female governor.

And Democratic Rep. Patsy T. Mink won by a wide margin in Saturday’s primary to run for her 13th term.

The 74-year-old congresswoman, who received 83% of the vote, had been expected to coast to victory even though she has been hospitalized for viral pneumonia caused by a case of chickenpox.

In the final tally Sunday, Hirono won the Democratic nomination with 76,685 votes, or 41%, followed by state Rep. Ed Case with 74,082 votes, or 40%. Former GOP legislator D.G. “Andy” Anderson was next with 33,378 votes, or 18%.

Lingle easily won the GOP primary against former legislator John Carroll, taking 90% of the vote, four years after narrowly losing the state’s top office to incumbent Democrat Ben Cayetano.

Cayetano was barred by law from seeking a third consecutive term.

In November’s congressional races, Mink will face 10-year state House member Bob McDermott, who won the GOP primary for the 2nd District. Democratic Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who was unopposed Saturday in the 1st District, will face auto dealer Mark Terry.