The HI-01 congressional district covers urban Honolulu and the island of Oahu's southern coast, including the state capital and the historic neighborhoods of Waikiki, Chinatown, and Manoa. It has been represented by Democrat Ed Case since 2019, after he won a special election to replace Colleen Hanabusa. The district is one of the safest Democratic seats in the country, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+14. In 2024, Case announced he would not seek reelection in 2026, triggering an open primary for the Democratic nomination. The winner will be heavily favored in the general election, making the Democratic primary the de facto contest for the seat. The primary election is scheduled for August 2026, with candidate filing deadlines in June 2026. Several local politicians and activists are considering runs, including state legislators, former congressional staffers, and community organizers. The race will test the strength of Hawaii's Democratic establishment against progressive challengers, similar to recent contests in other safe blue districts. The outcome will also shape Hawaii's delegation in the U.S. House, which currently consists of two Democrats (Case and Jill Tokuda) and one Republican (the at-large seat held by Ed Case until 2023, when Tokuda won the new second district). The HI-01 seat has been held by Democrats for all but two years since statehood in 1959, with Republican Charles Djou serving a partial term from 2010 to 2011 after winning a special election. The district's demographics are diverse: about 20% Japanese, 15% Filipino, 10% Chinese, 10% Native Hawaiian, and 20% white, with a median household income of around $80,000. Military and tourism are major economic drivers, with Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base located in the district. The district also includes the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which influences its progressive lean. The open seat has attracted interest from multiple candidates, with state Senator Sharon Moriwaki, state Representative Scot Matayoshi, and former state Representative Kaniela Ing among those mentioned as potential contenders. The race will be closely watched as a bellwether for Democratic primary dynamics in a diverse, urban district.

Historical Context

Hawaii's first congressional district has been represented by Democrats for most of its history since statehood in 1959. The district was created after the 1960 census and first elected Democrat Daniel Inouye, who served until 1963 when he moved to the Senate. The seat has been held by a series of prominent Democrats, including Spark Matsunaga (1963-1977), Cecil Heftel (1977-1987), Pat Saiki (1987-1991, the only Republican), Neil Abercrombie (1991-2010), and Colleen Hanabusa (2011-2015, 2016-2019). The only Republican to hold the seat was Charles Djou, who won a special election in 2010 during a wave of anti-Democratic sentiment but lost the general election later that year. The district's Democratic primary has historically been competitive, with multiple candidates vying for the nomination. In 2018, Ed Case defeated Kaniela Ing in a primary that highlighted the party's moderate-progressive divide. Case won with 42% of the vote to Ing's 34%, with two other candidates splitting the remainder. The 2026 primary is the first open seat race since 2010, when Neil Abercrombie vacated the seat to run for governor. That year, Colleen Hanabusa won a crowded primary with 38% of the vote against five opponents. The district's demographics have shifted slightly over the decades, with a growing Filipino and Native Hawaiian population and a declining Japanese-American population. Voter turnout in the district's Democratic primary has averaged around 100,000 voters in recent cycles, with a high of 120,000 in 2018. The district's strong Democratic lean means the primary winner is almost certain to win the general election, making the primary the decisive contest. The race also reflects broader national trends in Democratic primary politics, with tensions between establishment and progressive factions playing out in a diverse urban district.