Following last week’s dive into the uphill battles GOP contenders face in Hawaii this election season, it’s time to shift focus to the Democratic side.

Even in a predominantly Democratic state like Hawaii, challenging the status quo isn’t easy. Both Democratic and Republican incumbents hold strong positions, making it tough for challengers to break through.

Republican incumbents are fairly entrenched in their districts, so Democratic challengers face long odds. House District 42 on Oahu’s West Side, currently held by Rep. Diamond Garcia, is one of these Republican strongholds.

Isaiah Baclaan is one of three Democrats running in District 42’s August primary for the opportunity to challenge Garcia.

“I decided to run for office as I believe my community needs better representation and someone who is willing to serve the community despite partisan politics,” Baclaan wrote in an email.

Summer-Lee Yadao, another Democrat running in District 42, also emphasized the community and downplayed party affiliation in an email, saying, “My commitment is to serve all people, regardless of party affiliation, and to work together for meaningful progress.”

A wise choice given the district’s conservative leaning.

Yadao also acknowledged Garcia’s popularity and the odds she’s facing, saying, “I am realistic about the challenges, but I am driven by a genuine desire to serve and improve our community. This determination outweighed any considerations of the odds, motivating me to run and give the community a choice that reflects their values and aspirations.”

Among the Republican and Democratic challengers I spoke with, this was the most common sentiment. They know it will be difficult, but they want to offer voters a choice. And, if fortune does indeed favor the bold, some of these candidates will eventually find success as they build name recognition and hone their campaign skills.

Ikaika Hussey, a Democratic challenger in the Kalihi Valley’s House District 29, could be one of those candidates.

Hussey is running against incumbent May Mizuno, one of the 18 incumbent Democratic legislators facing a primary challenge in August. Mizuno was appointed to the seat in January to replace her husband, John Mizuno, when he got a job in the administration of Gov. Josh Green.

Despite a series of losses in 2016, 2018 and 2022, this year could prove to be Hussey’s opportunity.

“A lot of people assume that people will vote for the Mizuno name,” Hussey wrote in an email. But he said he’s secured support from some community members who once made up John Mizuno’s base.

“John’s base does not necessarily carry over to May,” Hussey said.

Challengers like Baclaan, Yadao, Hussey and others who are facing long odds shouldn’t be counted out. Look at the tight margins by which House Speaker Scott Saiki fended off challenges from Kim Coco Iwamoto in the last two elections, with another rematch looming this year in downtown Honolulu’s District 25.

State legislative candidates work with small constituencies where grassroots support and hard work can sometimes threaten powerful incumbents.

The Real Longshots

The same cannot be said for statewide U.S. Senate campaigns, where incumbents are better funded and benefit from widespread name recognition.

Not a single incumbent U.S. senator has lost a re-election bid in Hawaii since I’ve been old enough to vote. Nevertheless, Ron Curtis and Clyde Lewman are taking on Sen. Mazie Hirono in the Democratic primary and claim to be optimistic about their chances.

Curtis has ran twice for federal office as a Republican — for U.S. Senate in 2018 and the 1st Congressional District in 2020. Now he’s running as a Democrat.

Even though these Democratic challengers face long odds, they’re still an important part of the democratic process.

“The success will be determined based on getting comprehensive truthful knowledge to the voters so that they can make the most informed decisions,” Curtis said in an email.

His list of important policies showcases a real difference between himself and the incumbent. He supports repealing the Jones Act and transforming Hawaii into a global shipping hub. He also wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a solution that makes better use of market competition.

Lewman is also no stranger to Hawaii’s ballots, having run for governor in 2022. Like Curtis, he believes he can win if he gets his message out, saying in an email that “if people can hear and know me, they will vote for me.”

Lewman said he wants to bring bold policies to Washington. Most notably, he wants to see the focus shifted to Hawaii’s sovereignty.

“I believe in and support a sovereign Hawaii Kingdom Nation with dual citizenship, a specific type of monarchy determined by native Hawaiians and a unicameral legislative branch elected by the people,” he said.

Even though these Democratic challengers face long odds, they’re still an important part of the democratic process.

In a state where Democrats hold most of the political power, we can benefit from the debate that comes from intraparty competitions. And, like Republican challengers, these candidates’ participation helps ensure that elected officials stay attuned to their constituents’ needs and aspirations.