The 2010 Hawaii gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2010, to elect the next Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. Incumbent Republican Governor Linda Lingle was term-limited and not eligible to run for re-election. The Democratic Party nominated Representative Neil Abercrombie, and the Republican Party nominated incumbent Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona. In the election, Neil Abercrombie defeated Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona. Abercrombie was sworn in as the state's 7th Governor on December 6, 2010.[1] Aiona later unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Hawaii in 2014 and 2022.
As of 2023, this was the last time the Republican candidate for governor received over 40% of the vote in Hawaii.
This marked the first time since the 1966 election that both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii were white.
Eleven candidates ran for their political parties' nominations in the lieutenant governor primary election on September 18: seven Democrats, two Republicans, one independent, and one Free Energy Party candidate.[1]
Robert Bunda, 63, state legislator since 1983: State Representative from 1983 until 1994 and Senator from 1994 until 2010;[1] President of the Hawaii Senate for five years. Resigned from office to run for Lieutenant Governor.[1]
Gary Hooser, 56, former state Senator from Kauai. Campaign based largely on support of civil unions.[1]
Jon Riki Karamatsu, 35, state legislator first elected in 2002 to represent the Waipahu area; chairman of the state House Judiciary Committee[1]
Norman Sakamoto, 63, sitting state Senator first elected in 1996 to represent the Kalihi, Salt Lake, and Pearl Ridge neighborhoods of Honolulu; chairman of the state Senate Education and Housing Committee; opponent of civil unions[1]
Brian Schatz, 37, former state legislator and former chairman of the Hawaiian Democratic Party. Resident of Honolulu.[1]
Deborah Spence, no age provided, campaigns for the revival of hemp, which she calls the "most utilitarian plant", for use as a cellulose and biofuel. Resident of Hilo.[1]
Independent
Leonard Kama, 67, retired security guard and deckhand campaigning on education and a reduction of homelessness. Resident of Kapolei.[1]
General election
Neil Abercrombie and his running mate Brian Schatz on the day of the election
.jpg)
