Why It Matters
The decision by Hawaii Democratic state Rep. Della Au Belatti to abandon her congressional campaign and enter the lieutenant governor’s race reshapes two of the state’s most closely watched political contests ahead of the candidate filing deadline. Her move comes as Hawaii’s political landscape is clouded by an ongoing criminal investigation into public officials that has already forced a sitting lieutenant governor off the campaign trail.
What Happened
Belatti announced Thursday that she is withdrawing from the race for Hawaii’s First Congressional District to instead pursue the lieutenant governor’s office. She cited the sudden opening created when Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke announced last month she would not seek reelection while under scrutiny from a Hawaii Attorney General investigation.
Luke has since been named a target of the bribery investigation, which centers on an alleged $35,000 payment to an influential lawmaker in 2022. She has taken an unpaid leave of absence from her office. Belatti described the development as a fundamental realignment of the political environment.
“When Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke suspended her campaign, I would have never anticipated that,” Belatti said. “There was a fundamental shift in the political landscape and so I think good leaders adapt to that.”
Belatti, who has served nearly two decades in the Hawaii House of Representatives, also pointed to the recent passage of legislation using a novel approach to limit dark money and corporate influence in local elections as a factor in her decision to remain in state rather than federal politics. She argued that Hawaii’s executive branch offers a more immediate platform for advancing anti-corruption efforts than a seat in a 535-member Congress.
By the Numbers
- ~20 years — Belatti’s tenure in the Hawaii House of Representatives
- $35,000 — the alleged bribery payment at the center of the Attorney General investigation involving Lt. Gov. Luke
- 2022 — the year the alleged payment was made, according to investigators
- Less than one week — time remaining before the candidate filing deadline when Belatti made her announcement
The Lieutenant Governor Race
By entering the lieutenant governor’s contest, Belatti sets up a direct challenge to Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami, who declared his candidacy in March. Kawakami is currently considered the frontrunner and has secured backing from a well-funded super PAC tied to the Hawaii carpenters union and the pro-development Pacific Resource Partnership.
Belatti, whose professional background includes legal work in civil rights law, has pledged to reject corporate PAC money and is weighing whether to pursue public campaign financing. The contrast on campaign finance could become a central theme of the race, particularly given public attention to the ongoing corruption investigation. Hawaii’s governor has also recently signaled a willingness to address legislation affecting state programs, suggesting the executive branch remains an active policy front heading into the election cycle.
Congressional Race Reshaped
Belatti’s departure from the First Congressional District primary clears a path for state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who had acknowledged the difficulty of winning a crowded three-way race. Keohokalole has assembled significant support, including endorsements from labor unions and former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, along with substantial fundraising from prominent donors and business interests.
The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Ed Case, remains in the race. Belatti had struggled to match Keohokalole’s fundraising pace during her congressional campaign, a dynamic that political observers noted made her congressional prospects difficult.
Beth Fukumoto, a former state lawmaker now affiliated with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, said the shift likely improves Belatti’s electoral positioning. “She has a really good opportunity to change the conversation,” Fukumoto said, adding that local races tend to draw closer scrutiny from Hawaii voters, particularly when government integrity is a live issue.
What’s Next
Belatti must formally file for the lieutenant governor’s race before the upcoming candidate deadline. She will face Kawakami in the Democratic primary, with the broader Hawaii political environment already in flux following recent government accountability actions. The general election will determine who fills a position that, while often viewed as largely ceremonial, Belatti has framed as a meaningful platform for government reform.