What was a bad night for Republicans nationwide Tuesday night was also looking grim for the GOP in Hawaiʻi, including in numerous legislative races.

Democrats will not only continue dominance of the Legislature, if results released Tuesday just after 9 p.m. hold, but may pick up a few seats.

And, in one of the most-watched House races of the year — in West Maui — Pa‘ele Kiakona, a Green Party candidate and activist with the group Lahaina Strong, picked up a surge of votes in the second round of returns. He had 39.7% of the vote, just behind Democrat Sne Patel, with 40.8%. They were followed by incumbent Elle Cochran, a Republican who previously was a Democrat, at 17.2%.

The margin of votes between Patel and Kiakona appeared too close to call Tuesday night. An election day final count is expected sometime Wednesday.

One indication of the GOP’s bad night appeared in House District 18 — which includes Hawaiʻi Kai and other parts of East Honolulu. There, incumbent Republican Rep. Joe Gedeon at 45% of the vote was losing to Democrat James Wataru, with 51.5%.

Senate Races

In the Senate, where there are currently 22 Democrats and three Republicans, six seats were being contested Tuesday.

Democrats appeared to have the edge in keeping all of their seats, with incumbent Stanley Chang holding off GOP challenger David Crosswell by a wide margin, 70.2% to 24%, in District 9 in Hawaiʻi Kai.

Sen. Rachele Lamosao led Elijah Pierick, a House representative, 67.5% to 28.8% in District 19 in Pearl City and Waiphau.

And Sen. Joy San Buenaventura was far ahead of the Libertarian candidate in District 2 in Puna, 75.1% to 18.9%.

Sen. Danielle Bass, the Democrat appointed to replace Michelle Kidani early this year, was ahead of Republican Kelly Kitashima 53.3% to 39.4% with nonpartisan candidate Max Hanna in third with 1.8%. The winner of the Mililani-area seat will serve out the remaining two years of Kidani’s term.

In the two open seats in the Senate, Republican Bob McDermott — who survived a tiebreaker to oust incumbent Kurt Fevella in August — was barely ahead of Democrat Markus Owens 49.5% to 48.2% in Oʻahu’s District 20.

And Tricia Kwai Lin Nakamatsu, a Democrat, was beating Republican Wallyn Kanoelani Christian in District 13 on Oʻahu, a seat vacant due to the retirement of Karl Rhoads. Nakamatsu had 73.5% to Christian’s 21.4%.

House Races

In the House, where Democrats hold 41 seats in the 51-member chamber, it was too soon to predict how numbers might change. But many Democratic incumbents were winning their races after the second round of results were released.

They include Susan Lee Loy over Republican Jonathan Kennealy in District 2, 74.1% to 18.5%; Chris Todd ahead of Libertarian Austin Martin in District 3, 77.5% to 15.9%; Greggor Ilagan leading GOP candidate Zak Wittenhagen 75.4% to 21.2% in District 4; Jeanne Kapela besting the GOP’s Dalene McCormick 72.4% to 23.9% in District 5; and David Tarnas topping Republican Monique Perreira 68.9% to 28.4% in District 8. All of those seats are on the Big Island.

In Maui County, there is a similar pattern with Democratic incumbents beating GOP challengers: Tyson Miyake up over Travis Bumanglag 72.4% to 22.4%, Terez Amato leading Sheila Walker 68.2% to 27.9%, Kyle Yamashita with 68.2% to Dan Johnson with 26.3% and Mahina Poepoe over Robin Vanderpool 75.6% to 18.5%.

In Kauaʻi County, Democrat Luke Evslin led Republican David Hazlebeck 69.5% to 24.9% while Democrat Dee Morikawa led the GOP’s Misty Cluett 69.2% to 22.8%.

The largest number of House seats at play Tuesday were in the City and County of Honolulu. They include the special runoff election in District 43, where Republican Kanani Souza leads Republican Sheila Medeiros 34.8% to 31.8%.

Here is where other Oʻahu House races stood after early returns:

• District 20: Democrat Rep. Tina Nakada Grandinetti 69.9%, Republican David Asing 23.4%
• District 23: Democrat Rep. Ikaika Olds 74%, Republican Victor Muh 19%
• District 26: Democrat Ian Ross 68.8%, Republican Tony Silva 25.3% (Open seat)
• District 29: Democrat Rep. Ikaika Hussey 70.7%, Republican Tess Abalos 25.2%
• District 30: Democrat Rep. Shirley Ann Templo 65.7%, Republican Amanda Ybanez 31.4%
• District 31: Democrat Rep. Linda Ichiyama 75%, Republican Nancy Valdez 21.6%
• District 32: Democrat Micah Aiu 49.7%, Republican Rep. Garner Shimizu 47%
• District 34: Democrat Rep. Gregg Takayama 72.2%, Republican Gauis Dupio II 23.5%
• District 39: Democrat Corey Rosenlee 62.2%, Republican Danny De Gracia 34.7% (Open seat)
• District 40: Democrat Rose Martinez 49.2%, Republican Rep. Julie Reyes Oda 48.3%
• District 42: Democrat Anthony Makana Paris 49.5%, Republican Rep. Diamond Garcia 47.8%
• District 44: Democrat Rep. Darius Kila 65%, Republican Charla (Kahealani) Weaver 34%
• District 45: Democrat Kalehua Kaopua 46.2%, Republican Rep. Chris Muraoka 51.8%
• District 46: Democrat Rep. Amy Perruso 63.4%, Republican Daniel Michael Gabriel 33.6%
• District 47: Democrat Rep. Sean Quinlan 57.5%, Republican Mark Talaeai 40.8%
• District 49: Democrat Rep. Scot Matayoshi 75.7%, Republican ‘Ale Rodas 21.5%
• District 50: Democrat Rep. Mike Lee 76.9%, Green Jesse W.M. Fitzgerald 14.7%