HONOLULU — U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink, all Democrats, won new terms Tuesday, easily turning back GOP challengers, including two political newcomers. The incumbents’ victories were aided by strong support from voters on Kaua’i.
HONOLULU — U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink,
all Democrats, won new terms Tuesday, easily turning back GOP challengers,
including two political newcomers.
The incumbents’ victories were aided by
strong support from voters on Kaua’i.
Akaka, 76, a veteran of 14 years in
the House and 10 years in the Senate, defeated former state senator John
Carroll, a businessman and retired airline pilot who has filed a federal
lawsuit challenging Hawaiians-only government programs. Akaka introduced
federal legislation to validate Hawaiians-only programs.
With about half
the votes counted, Akaka had 141,361 votes to 46,327 for
Carroll.
Abercrombie, 62, whose campaign echoed that of Democratic
presidential candidate Al Gore on most federal issues, defeated Phil Meyers,
44, a pediatrician, whose pitch generally followed that of GOP candidate George
W. Bush. Abercrombie has been in the House since 1991.
Early returns showed
Abercrombie with 65,892 and Meyers with 27,520.
Mink, 72, a member of the
House for 22 years, defeated former National Football League tight end Russ
Francis, 47, a Republican who asked voters to overlook his earlier financial,
family and criminal problems.
Mink led in early returns with 60,348 to
31,776 for Francis.
Early returns from Kaua’i precincts gave Akaka 69
percent, Abercrombie 62 percent and Mink 60 percent of the votes on the
island.
