Twelve individuals have currently pulled nomination papers to seek office in Hawaii this election cycle as either independent or third party candidates, including one candidate looking to use the ballot line of No Labels and another with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s We the People Party.
The group of twelve hopefuls includes a mix of nonpartisan individuals and those seeking the ballot lines of various third parties in Hawaii. According to the Hawaiian Office of Elections, six individuals have pulled nomination papers to appear on the ballot as nonpartisan candidates, including in Hawaii’s 25th and 35th legislative districts, its 16th State Senate district, its first and second congressional districts, and for its United States Senate seat. Notably, these nonpartisan candidates are distinct from those running for local office in Hawaii, as those positions are inherently nonpartisan and listed as such by the Office of Elections.
Additionally, three individuals have pulled papers to run for four different seats as Libertarian Party candidates. Two candidates, Austin Martin and Frederick Fogel, are running for Hawaii’s third and fifth state legislative districts, respectively. The third candidate, Aaron Toman, pulled papers for both Hawaii’s second congressional district and its United States Senate seat. However, according to Toman’s campaign site, he is actively pursuing a congressional bid.
First reported by Richard Winger of Ballot Access News, two candidates are also seeking the respective nominations of the No Labels organization and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s We the People Party. Lono Mack, who pulled papers in early February, is seeking to run for Hawaii’s first congressional district as a member of No Labels. Notably, Mack also pulled papers for the same position as a member of the Republican Party. Alternatively, Christian Ulufanua, who pulled papers in late April, is seeking to run for Hawaii’s 40th legislative district as a member of the We the People Party.
The We the People Party line was established by independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a means to more easily secure ballot access in six states. In contrast, No Labels, which spent most of the 2024 election cycle considering whether to field a presidential unity ticket, achieved ballot access in various locations before ultimately deciding against nominating a candidate. According to Winger, No Labels appears not to have taken steps to revoke its qualified status in Hawaii.
The remaining candidate to pull thus far is Jackie Keefe, who is running for Hawaii’s sixth State Senate district as a Green Party candidate. As of this article, Keefe is the only candidate who has filed their signed nomination papers, submitting them on April 26. The remaining candidates have until June 6 to file their signed nomination papers.
With thanks to Richard Winger for first reporting on the campaigns of Lono Mack and Christian Ulufanua.
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