2026 governor races › Hawaii

Hawaii Governor Race 2026: Green vs. Cordery

General election November 3, 2026 · Updated October 19, 2026

Solid DIncumbent: Josh Green (D)

Gov. Josh Green (D) is seeking a second term.

Candidates

Where the race stands

There is no RealClearPolling average. Polymarket gives Green (D) about 99 percent, and Kalshi has Democrats at about 99 percent.
2026 governor races
Alaska: Tilt DAlabama: Very Likely RArkansas: Solid RArizona: Lean DCalifornia: Solid DColorado: Solid DConnecticut: Solid DDE: no governor race in 2026Florida: Lean RGeorgia: Toss-upHawaii: Solid DIowa: Tilt DIdaho: Solid RIllinois: Solid DIN: no governor race in 2026Kansas: Lean RKY: no governor race in 2026LA: no governor race in 2026Massachusetts: Solid DMaryland: Solid DMaine: Very Likely DMichigan: Lean DMinnesota: Very Likely DMO: no governor race in 2026MS: no governor race in 2026MT: no governor race in 2026NC: no governor race in 2026ND: no governor race in 2026Nebraska: Likely RNew Hampshire: Likely RNJ: no governor race in 2026New Mexico: Very Likely DNevada: Tilt RNew York: Solid DOhio: Toss-upOklahoma: Very Likely ROregon: Lean DPennsylvania: Solid DRhode Island: Very Likely DSouth Carolina: Solid RSouth Dakota: Solid RTennessee: Solid RTexas: Likely RUT: no governor race in 2026VA: no governor race in 2026Vermont: Very Likely RWA: no governor race in 2026Wisconsin: Tilt DWV: no governor race in 2026Wyoming: Solid R AKALARAZCACOFLGAIAIDILINKSKYLAMEMIMNMOMSMTNCNDNENMNVNYOHOKORPASCSDTNTXUTVAWAWIWVWY
  • Solid D
  • Very Likely D
  • Lean D
  • Tilt D
  • Toss-up
  • Tilt R
  • Lean R
  • Likely R
  • Very Likely R
  • Solid R
  • No race

Analysis

Gov. Josh Green (D), a physician who worked in emergency rooms before entering politics, is running on plans to “build more housing, reduce homelessness, and make our state more affordable.” Gary Cordery (R), a general contractor who has never held office, proposes 15,000 homes for working families, ending the excise tax on food and medicine, and freezing property taxes for retirees, and he has pressed Green for a televised debate that Green has not agreed to. Green has raised more than $3.7 million, about nine times Cordery’s total, and Hawaii has not had a Republican governor since Linda Lingle left office in 2010. Not competitive.

The rating is MultiState's consensus, the average of the Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Pluribus News. Polling is the RealClearPolling average where one exists.

Hawaii governors since 1991

Democrats have held the office since 2010. The last Republican was Linda Lingle (2002–2010).

19911995200020052010201520202025

Each block is one governor; thin lines mark a reelection. Margins are the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points.

  1. Josh Green D · 2022–present · 1 term
    Elected 2022 (+26.3)
  2. David Ige D · 2014–2022 · 2 terms
    Elected 2014 (+12.4), reelected 2018 (+29.0)
  3. Neil Abercrombie D · 2010–2014 · 1 term
    Elected 2010 (+17.1), lost renomination 2014
  4. Linda Lingle R · 2002–2010 · 2 terms
    Elected 2002 (+4.6), reelected 2006 (+27.2)
  5. Ben Cayetano D · 1994–2002 · 2 terms
    Elected 1994 (+5.9), reelected 1998 (+1.3)
  6. John D. Waiheʻe III D · 1986–1994 · 2 terms
    Elected 1986 (+4.0), reelected 1990 (+21.2)
See the full Hawaii governor timeline and every election since 1959 →

Continue Exploring

All 2026 governor races →
Ratings, candidates and analysis for all 36 races
Hawaii 2026 elections →
Every race on the ballot, legislature to statewide offices
Hawaii governors →
Past governors and election history
Hawaii 2026 results →
Every race on the ballot, live on election night
Hawaii 2024 results →
The last election, race by race