LIHUE — Money is coming in this year’s election cycle for the island’s three state House of Representatives races. All three Democratic incumbents, according to state campaign finance reports, handily outpaced their primary challengers in raising money for their re-election
LIHUE — Money is coming in this year’s election cycle for the island’s three state House of Representatives races.
All three Democratic incumbents, according to state campaign finance reports, handily outpaced their primary challengers in raising money for their re-election campaigns over the last two years.
The finance reports were due Thursday.
District 14
State House District 14 incumbent Derek Kawakami, a Democrat, began his re-election campaign in late 2012 with $18,801 in the bank and reported having $22,696 on hand at the beginning of this year.
Just over half of his campaign contributions accrued since 2012, totaling $30,200, were raised during the first six months of this year alone. More than half of his total expenditures, totaling $22,185, were also made during that same time.
In all, Kawakami reported having a $13,354 surplus on hand on Thursday.
His Republican challenger, Jonathan Hoomanawanui, started off this year with $910 and raised $3,328 over the next six months. During that same time, the North Shore resident also spent $2,447, leaving him with a $764 surplus as of Thursday.
District 15
Some hopefuls, however, have gained some ground in the race to unseat current state lawmakers — the most noteworthy of which belongs race between Democrats James “Jimmy” Kunane Tokioka and Dylan Hooser for State House District 15.
Tokioka, the Democratic incumbent, started off with $31,354 in the bank at the beginning of the year and spent $13,036 over a six-month period that ended on June 30.
Though the four-term legislator did not receive any campaign contributions between January and June, he has raised $14,877 since the fundraising season for this year’s election began on Nov. 7, 2012.
Tokioka, who reported having $28,106 on hand in 2012 for his 2014 election run, now has a $10,817 surplus as of Thursday.
Hooser, meanwhile, started off the year with $4,235 in the bank and raised another $14,097 by the end of June.
In all, Hooser has spent $8,750 during this year’s election cycle and has $9,582 surplus.
Republican Steve Yoder, running unopposed in the primary for his party’s State House District 15 spot in the general election, started off with no cash on hand at the beginning of this year and raised $10,254 by June 30.
Yoder, however, spent $12,106 during that same six-month period and reported a $3,368 deficit as of Thursday.
District 16
State House District 16 incumbent Daynette “Dee” Morikawa, a Democrat, reported having $6,659 cash on hand when she began her re-election campaign in 2012, but had $4,342 at the beginning of this year.
More than half the contributions made for her campaign, totaling $16,205, and slightly less than half of her expenditures, totaling $16,779, were made during the first six months of this year.
In all, the two-term state lawmaker reported having a $6,085 surplus as of Thursday.
Her Democratic Party challenger, Thomas “Butch” Kahawai, began his election campaign earlier this year with $100 in the bank and raised another $3,090 over the next several months leading up to the end of June. He spent $810 during that same time and reported having $2,380 surplus as of Thursday.
Republican Victoria “Vickie” Franks, seeking to win her party’s bid for Morikawa’s seat in the primary election, reported having $300 at the beginning of her campaign and raised another $2,575 over the past six months.
During that same time, Franks spent $64, leaving her with a $2,811 surplus as of Thursday.
Campaign finance reports for her primary challenger, Lawai resident Vince Flores, weren’t posted.
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Darin Moriki, county government reporter, can be reached at 245-0428 or dmoriki@thegardenisland.com. Follow him on Twitter at @darinmoriki.
