Hawaii Republicans Aim to Mobilize Trump Voters for 2026 Midterms at State Convention
Why It Matters
Hawaii Republicans face an uphill climb in a state where Democrats hold nearly every major office, but the party sees a narrow path to growing its minority presence in the state legislature — and potentially influencing policy — if it can turn out voters who showed up for Donald Trump in presidential years but historically sit out midterm elections.
What Happened
The Hawaii Republican Party held its state convention Saturday at the Kroc Center in ‘Ewa Beach, drawing more than 100 delegates for a day of strategy sessions, candidate appearances, and party business. The central message from party leaders: mobilizing Trump-aligned voters who may not consider midterm elections worth their time is essential to any legislative gains this November.
“We’ve got to get our Trump people, who maybe don’t normally vote in the midterms, because they think the presidential election is all they care about,” said Scott Smart, the Hawaii GOP’s national committeeman. “We need to get them to understand they need to get involved.”
Party chair Shirlene Ostrov called on delegates to remain unified and forward-looking, telling the convention the party is bound together by “a love for Hawaiʻi, a love for our country, and a commitment for preserving freedom.”
Political strategist Daniel Silver, CEO of the firm Right Insight, advised candidates to concentrate on two core issues: public safety — which he framed as “protecting ʻohana” — and cost of living, particularly the out-migration of young residents to the mainland. Silver argued those themes cut across party lines and resonate broadly with Hawaii families.
By the Numbers
11 — current Republican seats in the 51-member Hawaii House of Representatives
3 — Republican seats in the 25-member Hawaii Senate
129 — Democrats who had pulled candidate filing papers as of Friday, compared to 61 Republicans
$1.1 million — party assets reported by treasurer Lani Kaaa, a figure the party cited as a financial turning point
June 2 — the deadline for candidates to formally file for office in Hawaii
The Trump Factor and National Context
Republicans nationally are attempting to break a well-established historical pattern: the party that controls the White House typically loses congressional seats in the first midterm election. Smart told delegates that the national Republican picture looks more favorable than the 2018 cycle, pointing to a smaller number of competitive Senate and House seats and recent court rulings that Republicans view as advantageous on redistricting and voter roll access.
President Trump’s approval ratings are under pressure, with rising prices tied to energy costs and ongoing foreign policy tensions weighing on public sentiment. Republicans nevertheless retain control of the White House, both chambers of Congress, a majority of state legislatures, and a 6-3 conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court.
In Hawaii, where Democrats hold all four congressional seats and the governorship, the GOP’s convention comes as Gov. Josh Green has yet to attract a serious primary challenger. Gary Cordery emerged at the convention as the likely Republican gubernatorial nominee.
Election Integrity Concerns
Among the convention’s most discussed speakers was Ralph Cushnie, a member of the Hawaii Elections Commission, who has spent several years arguing the state is not complying with its own election laws and has repeatedly declined to conduct audits. Cushnie described his tenure on the commission as “antagonistic” and urged delegates to monitor ballot chain-of-custody procedures closely during the upcoming election cycle.
His remarks connect to a broader national debate over mail-in voting practices. The Department of Justice has separately taken legal action involving Hawaii over access to sensitive voter registration data, a dispute tied to Republican efforts to identify noncitizen registrations.
Internal Challenges
Despite the unified convention front, Hawaii Republicans have experienced notable internal turbulence. The party has cycled through three chairs within the past year, and several officials resigned amid leadership disputes. On the financial side, however, the party reported improvement: county chapters now maintain their own bank accounts, enabling them to accept donations and process reimbursements independently of state party leadership.
Delegates also approved a resolution to move Hawaii’s presidential caucus earlier in the calendar — potentially before Super Tuesday — in an effort to give the state more relevance in future primary contests.
What’s Next
The Hawaii Democratic Party is scheduled to hold its own state convention later this month. The candidate filing deadline of June 2 will clarify the full field of races. Primary elections are set for August, with the general election in November.