Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District primary is shaping up as a clear generational contest, with veteran lawmaker Ed Case defending his seat against state Senator Jarrett Keohokalole ahead of an August vote that will likely determine who represents urban Oahu in Washington.
Why It Matters
Because Hawaii is a heavily Democratic state, the winner of the August primary is broadly expected to hold the seat through November. That makes the Case-Keohokalole matchup the decisive contest in the district, which stretches across urban Oahu from Hawaii Kai to Ewa. The outcome could have implications for how the state’s Democratic delegation evolves — and whether voters prioritize institutional seniority or fresh representation.
What Happened
Case, 73, is seeking his fifth consecutive term after 12 years of House service. He sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, a position that gives Hawaii direct influence over federal spending. Keohokalole, 42, is a sitting state senator who says his full-time focus on legislating makes him ready for the congressional stage.
The race initially involved a third candidate, Della Au Belatti, but she withdrew and redirected her campaign toward the lieutenant governor’s race, narrowing the Democratic primary to a two-person contest.
On the Republican side, U.S. Army retiree Adriel Lam is the only candidate who has filed for the general election. Lam ran unsuccessfully in a 2024 GOP Senate primary and has not reported raising any campaign funds, making him a long-shot in the November general regardless of which Democrat prevails.
By the Numbers
- 12 years — Case’s total time in Congress
- Fifth consecutive term — what Case is seeking in November
- Top 25% — where Case would rank in House seniority if reelected
- $3.5 trillion — the Democratic spending package Case blocked in 2021
- 4 — number of House Democrats who voted for the SAVE Act in April 2025, including Case
- 2028 — when Keohokalole’s state Senate seat is next on the ballot, meaning a loss in this race does not immediately cost him his current office
Zoom Out
Case’s voting record has drawn scrutiny from the left. He was among the small group of Democrats who blocked the party’s $3.5 trillion spending package in 2021, and he was one of only four House Democrats to vote for the SAVE Act in April 2025. Those votes give Keohokalole material to argue Case is out of step with Hawaii’s Democratic base.
Colin Moore, a political scientist at the University of Hawaii, characterized the dynamics in blunt terms. “There’s increasing generational frustration that’s been happening for a number of years, but now it’s arrived in Hawaii,” Moore said. “And Ed Case is probably the most vulnerable of the members of the delegation to an electoral challenge.”
The race mirrors similar primary contests playing out across the country, where younger Democratic challengers are leveraging frustration with long-serving incumbents — particularly those who have broken with the party on key votes. Case’s camp, meanwhile, argues that Appropriations Committee seniority translates directly into federal resources for Hawaii, a case that has historically resonated with island voters. Hawaii’s election infrastructure is also under pressure this cycle, with the state Elections Commission deadlocked over selecting a new chair as primary season advances.
What’s Next
The primary is set for August, with the November general election to follow. Keohokalole will need to consolidate progressive support quickly, while Case will lean on his committee standing and institutional relationships to make the case for experience. Hawaii’s ongoing infrastructure and economic challenges — including flood vulnerabilities and strained drainage systems across Oahu — could also surface as campaign issues given the district’s urban geography and Case’s appropriations role.
Case has run statewide before, having challenged Daniel Akaka in a U.S. Senate race earlier in his career. Whether that broader electoral experience helps or hurts him against a newer generation of voters remains one of the central questions of this primary.