Hawaii 2nd District
Jill Tokuda (D) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Jill Tokuda
Democrat · holds this seat today
FLiberty Score FOn the liberty side in 26 of 100 votes and bills.
Raised $985,930 since January 2025: 74% from people, 25% from PACs and other committees, 1% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Brenton Awa
Republican · state senator and Senate minority leader
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Awa, and what Awa has said and done settles only 1 of my principles. I went through it on October 26. A grade needs 4.
Raised $131,063 since January 2025: 85% from people, 14% transfers and other income, 1% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in Hawaii: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Brenton Awa, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Awa, so the grade above comes from this list: what Awa has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Asked about aid to Israel, he said his concern is that money sent abroad does not come to Hawaii, without saying whether he would cut it.
“But my biggest focus, if we're going to send billions of dollars to Israel or another country, my only concern is why isn't that money coming to Hawaii”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He names no cut, condition or weapons policy, so the words do not settle whether he backs or limits aid to Israel.
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He said a candidate campaigning on affordability should challenge the Jones Act, which limits shipping competition to Hawaii.
“anyone campaigning on affordability while refusing to challenge a law restricting shipping competition to an island state should raise red flags.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing the repeal of a rule that restricts competition is less regulation.
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His campaign site proposes using tariff revenue to cut the federal gas tax and rewarding states that cut their own fuel taxes.
“Pass tariff revenue back to consumers at the pump by reducing the federal gas tax and providing incentives for states that lower their own fuel taxes.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut is lower taxes; the same plan keeps the tariffs, which this measure counts against, but the line itself is the tax cut.
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His campaign site proposes a larger child tax credit.
“Increase the child tax credit to provide greater tax relief for families.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut for families is lower taxes.
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His campaign site proposes capping how many homes investors can buy.
“Use existing federal tools to help local residents afford homes in Hawaii by capping predatory investor buying”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A federal cap on what private buyers may purchase is added regulation of the market, the opposite of less regulation.
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His campaign site proposes limiting how many single-family homes corporations can acquire.
“Limit the number of single family homes corporations can acquire”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A legal cap on what companies may buy is more regulation of a market.
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Asked about ICE, he said the idea is good but did not say what he would do about enforcement.
“The idea is good. The way they go and carry it out, and I don’t know”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The quote does not itself name deportation or ICE, so it settles nothing.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Hawaii 2nd District
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