Democratic Party of Hawaii
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi ʻAoʻao Demokalaka o Hawaiʻi | ||
---|---|---|
House Speaker Scott Saiki | | |
Founded | April 30, 1900 | |
Headquarters | Honolulu | |
Ideology | Social liberalism Modern liberalism Progressivism | |
National affiliation | Democratic Party | |
Colors | Blue | |
State House | 45 / 51
| |
State Senate | 23 / 25
| |
Statewide Executive Offices | 2 / 2
| |
U.S. House of Representatives (Hawaii seats) | 2 / 2
| |
U.S. Senate (Hawaii seats) | 2 / 2
| |
Website | ||
hawaiidemocrats | ||
The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian: ʻAoʻao Kemokalaka o Hawaiʻi) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the state of Hawaii.
The party is a centralized organization established to promote the party platform as drafted in convention biennially. It is also charged with registering voters and delivering voter turnout through county organizations for Hawaii County, Kauaʻi County, Maui County and the City and County of Honolulu. The Hawaii Democratic Party maintained political control of the state government in Hawaii for over forty years, from 1962 to 2002. It is currently the dominant party in the state, and is one of the strongest affiliates of the national Democratic Party. The party currently controls both of Hawaii's U.S. House seats, both U.S. Senate seats, the governorship, and has supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature. In particular, the party controls all but two of the 25 seats in the state Senate.
Organization
A major factor in the party's organization is the ethnicity of Hawaii itself. As Democrats emerged as the dominant political party in 1962, they sought to garner support from Native Hawaiians and other non-whites. This success is attributed to the efforts of portraying themselves as not belonging to the power elite. For decades, the party had little difficulty in winning local and statewide elections, with a significant number of Democrats running unopposed in certain years.[1] The party has also established a gender-equality policy that required the election of more women to the state central committee, resulting in an equal balance of men and women in administrative positions.[2]
State-level organizational meetings are held at the precinct, district, county, and state level, biennially, during even-numbered years. The party adheres to a complex set of bylaws that addresses eligibility for membership, election of officers, holding conventions, and recruiting delegates to represent the party at conventions.[3] A minimum of two delegates are required from each precinct, with an equal number of men and women, as required by its gender-equality policy.[3] While there is no permanent location for state conventions, nearly all of them have been held on the island of Oahu (the most populated) since 1960.[4]
The party is governed by a Chair and the State Central Committee. That committee is composed of representatives from each senatorial district, as well as representatives from each county, for each caucuses and the
Due to the extreme geographical distance from the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington D.C., the party is relatively independent in its affairs. As a result, the national party does not typically inquire contributions for fund-raising purposes. Due to the party's dominant status in the state, there is some over-representation at national party conventions, in comparison to the population of Hawaii itself. Despite certain advantages, the party remains somewhat isolated on the national level.[6]
History
Founding
The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi was formed on April 30, 1900, by supporters of the
Elections of 1900
Leading up to the election of 1900, it became apparent the radically nationalist
Territory of Hawaii
After the overthrow of the monarchy and annexation, an oligarchy of powerful sugar corporations called the Big Five effectively controlled government in the Hawaiian Islands, making hundreds of millions of dollars in profits.[7] The oligarchy of Castle & Cooke, Alexander & Baldwin, C. Brewer & Co., Amfac, and Theo H. Davies & Co. worked in favor of the Hawaiʻi Republican Party. The plantations needed labor and the Native Hawaiian population was insufficient to fill the demand. Immigrants from around the world such as Puerto Rico, Korea, and most particularly Japan and the Philippines were brought to Hawaii. In response to the flood of immigrants, Democrats became more nativist. Democrats like McCarthy and Oren Long pushed a compromise of allowing migrant workers that would eventually return to where they came from rather than establish themselves in Hawaii.
Burns Machine
Up to the Revolution of 1954, Democrats held a stronger pro-
Statehood
Party standing in the
The party has remained successful due to its heavy usage of the media, relying on grassroots activities. Campaign tactics and promotion of party ideals have been characterized by rice dinners, rallies, door-to-door campaigning, and sign waving in public areas. These activities have helped maintain the party's large membership and its status as the majority party of Hawaii.[11]
Political positions
Liberalism
The Democratic Party has tended to hold a position on social issues based on how an issue would affects bystanders and/or the environment. The party's platform is based on the values of liberty and social justice, with compassion and respect towards the individual.
Trade unionism
The Democratic Party has asserted itself as Hawaii's labor party since gaining support from unions and plantation workers in the 1950s. The party has supported
Economics
The Democrats prefer increased regulation of big companies because of the relatively small marketplace in Hawaii and past experiences with
Environment
The Democratic Party has favored conservation efforts such as wildlife sanctuaries and reserves. Pollution reduction initiatives have received
Healthcare
The party platform supports a public health care system with development long-term financing solutions for individual care. The party has expressed support towards single payer
Religion
Religion in the Democratic Party varies among individuals. Governor
Current elected officials
The following is a list of Democrats who hold elected federal and statewide offices in Hawaii in 2020:
Members of Congress
U.S. Senate
Democrats have controlled both of Hawaii's seats in the U.S. Senate since 1976.
-
Senior U.S. Senator Brian Schatz
-
Junior U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono
U.S. House of Representatives
Out of the 2 seats Hawaii is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives, both are held by Democrats:
District | Member | Photo |
---|---|---|
1st | Ed Case | |
2nd | Jill Tokuda |
Statewide offices
Democrats control both of the elected statewide offices:
State legislative leaders
- Senate President: Ron Kouchi
- Senate Vice President: Michelle Kidani
- Senate Majority Leader: Dru Kanuha
- House Speaker: Scott Saiki
- Vice House Speaker: Greggor Ilagan
- House Majority Leader: Nadine Nakamura
- House Majority Floor Leader: Dee Morikawa
Electoral performance
Presidential
Election | Presidential Ticket | Votes | Vote % | Electoral votes | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1960 | John F. Kennedy/Lyndon B. Johnson | 92,410 | 50.03% | 3 / 3
|
Won |
1964 | Lyndon B. Johnson/Hubert Humphrey | 163,249 | 78.76% | 4 / 4
|
Won |
1968 | Hubert Humphrey/Edmund Muskie | 141,324 | 59.83% | 4 / 4
|
Lost |
1972 | George McGovern/Sargent Shriver | 101,409 | 37.52% | 0 / 4
|
Lost |
1976 | Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale | 147,375 | 50.59% | 4 / 4
|
Won |
1980 | Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale | 135,879 | 44.80% | 4 / 4
|
Lost |
1984 | Walter Mondale/Geraldine Ferraro | 147,154 | 43.82% | 0 / 4
|
Lost |
1988 | Michael Dukakis/Lloyd Bentsen | 192,364 | 54.27% | 4 / 4
|
Lost |
1992 | Bill Clinton/Al Gore | 179,310 | 48.09% | 4 / 4
|
Won |
1996 | Bill Clinton/Al Gore | 205,012 | 56.93% | 4 / 4
|
Won |
2000 | Al Gore/Joe Lieberman | 205,286 | 55.79% | 4 / 4
|
Lost |
2004 | John Kerry/John Edwards | 231,708 | 54.01% | 4 / 4
|
Lost |
2008 | Barack Obama/Joe Biden | 325,871 | 71.85% | 4 / 4
|
Won |
2012 | Barack Obama/Joe Biden | 306,658 | 70.55% | 4 / 4
|
Won |
2016 | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 266,891 | 62.88% | 4 / 4
|
Lost |
2020 | Joe Biden/Kamala Harris | 366,130 | 63.73% | 4 / 4
|
Won |
Gubernatorial
Election | Gubernatorial candidate | Votes | Vote % | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1959 | John A. Burns | 82,074 | 48.66% | Lost |
1962 | John A. Burns | 114,308 | 58.32% | Won |
1966 | John A. Burns | 108,840 | 51.06% | Won |
1970 | John A. Burns | 137,812 | 57.65% | Won |
1974 | George Ariyoshi | 136,262 | 54.58% | Won |
1978 | George Ariyoshi | 153,394 | 54.48% | Won |
1982 | George Ariyoshi | 141,043 | 45.23% | Won |
1986 | John D. Waihe'e III | 173,655 | 51.98% | Won |
1990 | John D. Waihe'e III | 203,491 | 59.83% | Won |
1994 | Ben Cayetano | 134,978 | 36.58% | Won |
1998 | Ben Cayetano | 204,206 | 50.11% | Won |
2002 | Mazie Hirono | 179,647 | 47.01% | Lost |
2006 | Randy Iwase | 121,717 | 35.35% | Lost |
2010 | Neil Abercrombie | 222,724 | 57.8% | Won |
2014 | David Ige | 181,106 | 49.45% | Won |
2018 | David Ige | 244,934 | 62.67% | Won |
2022 | Josh Green | 259,901 | 63.02% | Won |
See also
- Aloha ʻĀina Party of Hawai'i
- Green Party of Hawaii
- Hawaii Republican Party
- Political party strength in Hawaii
Notes
- ^ (Appleton & Ward 1997, p. 74)
- ^ (Appleton & Ward 1997, p. 75)
- ^ a b (Appleton & Ward 1997, p. 77)
- ^ (Appleton & Ward 1997, p. 78)
- ^ "2014 STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE NOMINATION FORM" (PDF). Democratic Party of Hawaii. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015.
- ^ (Appleton & Ward 1997, p. 78)
- ^ a b (Appleton & Ward 1997, p. 73)
- ^ a b c "Forty Years After".
- ^ a b (Appleton & Ward 1997, p. 74)
- ^ a b (Appleton & Ward 1997, p. 75)
- ^ (Appleton & Ward 1997, p. 76)
- ^ a b c d e Democratic Party of Hawaii (2010), 2010 Platform, archived from the original on 2011-10-31, retrieved 2011-11-13
- ^ a b Gordon, Mike (July 2, 2006), "John A. Burns", Honolulu Advertiser, Gannett, retrieved 2011-11-13
- ^ Hawaii State Department of Health, Hawaii's Smoke-Free Law, retrieved 2011-11-13
References
- Appleton, Andrew M.; Ward, Daniel S. (1997), State Party Profiles: A 50-State Guide to Development, Organization, and Resources, Congressional Quarterly, pp. 73–82, ISBN 978-1-56802-150-8