Hawai’i’s stormy primary election may be followed by an equally eventful general election this November

Last month saw hard fought Democratic primary elections in Hawai’i against the backdrop of a destructive hurricane which disenfranchised two important election precincts. Todd L. Belt writes that Hawai’i’s Lieutenant Governor, Brian Schatz was able to beat Representative Collen Hanabusa by a narrow margin partly because of his more muted campaigning after the hurricanes in communities that value humility, and that incumbent Governor, Neil Abercrombie, was similarly defeated because of his unpopular decisions and combative style. With lava flows now affecting the same precincts, the state’s general and gubernatorial elections in November are likely to be just as eventful as its primary.