Campaign contributions received by political candidates in Hawaii are up this year, despite a local economy in shambles. The 227 candidates running for state or county offices in this year’s election cycle raised a total of $6,173,028.70 in campaign contributions during the one-year period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
The top five spots on the list, ranked by total contributions their campaigns took in over the year, went to the major candidates running for Honolulu mayor–Keith Amemiya ($1,184,412), Colleen Hanabusa ($515,611), Rick Blangiardi ($431,907), Mufi Hannemann ($385,609), and Kym Pine ($235,312).
These top five candidates together accounted for 44.6% of all contributions reported by the 227 candidates who filed reports with the commission during this campaign season.
The top 30 candidates together accounted for $4,579,864.58, just shy of three-quarters of the total.
State Representative Gene Ward was the top ranked Republican at #50 in the list, reporting $20,525 contributed to his reelection campaign during the one-year period.
State law requires candidates to itemize and disclose the name and address of each contributor who gives a total of more than $100 during the election period, along with the occupation and employer of donors giving more than $1,000. Some candidates provide the names and addresses of all contributors, even those who don’t cross the $100 threshold.
The total raised through June 30, 2020 is 40 percent more than the $4,380,346.92 in contributions reported during the comparable period before the 2016 primary, when the Honolulu mayoral race was also on the ballot.
That seems remarkable considering that the latest reporting period includes the months when the economy, and traditional forms of campaigning, were largely shut down.
Data reported by the Campaign Spending Commission show that nearly $2.8 million dollars–45% of the total for the one-year period–was contributed to candidates since March 15, 2020, while unemployment reached record levels, most local businesses were shuttered, many families lined up at food distribution sites, and virtually the entire visitor industry was effectively shut down.
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Well, yes, it would be amazing *if* those contributions were largely the kind of small-dollar donations that are received from the kind of voters most adversely affected by the economic stranglehold. I am more inclined to suspect that the contributions mainly came from those relatively unaffected and/or who see opportunity in this mayhem rather than those worried about being able to pay the rent. The rich can always be counted on to support a system that largely exists for their benefit, regardless of economic conditions.
SomebodyREALLY wants Amemiya to be mayor. It looks to me like they are trying to buy the election. He has double the amount of money of the next on the list. Reason enough to be suspicious.
Keith Amemiya keeps listing “Democrat for Mayor” Why is he listed as non-partisan on the list?
Also I thought the mayor’s race was A non- partisan Race.
Not SOMEBODY; lots of somebodies.
If you’re new to Honolulu, you may not know the extensiveness of Amemiya’s network. Also, he publicly announced his candidacy in September 2019 (way before the corona crisis). I’m sure (but don’t have any proof) that he expected to be running against more well-known politicians who were going to raise lots of $$$; the health crisis probably did affect everyone’s plans for their candidacy. Pine’s announcement was about a month after Amemiya’s. The comparisons between their fundraising prowess is striking.
Maybe it’s just that a lot of people don’t want the same retreads to get back into office?
Thank you, Ian, for finding and sharing this significant information.