Hawaii contractor nominated to construct GOP comeback after two-decade Democratic hold on governor’s mansion

Gary Cordery, who owns a contracting company, won the Republican nomination for Hawaii governor after defeating business owner Ken Fujiyama in Saturday’s primary.

He is now set to face Democratic Gov. Josh Green in November in a race that heavily favors the incumbent. The Cook Political Report rates the contest as Solid Democratic, with a Partisan Voting Index of D+13.

Cordery faces a steep challenge: Hawaii has not had a Republican governor since Linda Lingle left office in 2010.

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Businessman Gary Cordery is a Republican candidate for governor in the 2026 Hawaii gubernatorial election.  (Daniel Ho)

In addition to facing an incumbent with a 56% approval rating and Hawaii’s long history of Democratic control, Cordery faces a significant financial disadvantage against Green.

Green has raised approximately $3.5 million, far outpacing Cordery, who has raised about $313,000, according to Honolulu Civil Beat.

Despite the uphill battle, Cordery is pitching voters on a platform centered on lowering Hawaii’s high cost of living, reforming education and cracking down on corruption.

“As a husband, father and grandfather, businessman and community servant, I love Hawai’i,” Cordery said in an interview with Honolulu Civil Beat. “These islands of unique beauty have endured mismanagement for decades. Her people live under tremendous stress and anxiety. I am running to open opportunity, create abundance and ensure stewardship of her resources, bringing accountability and hope for the people.”

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Hawaii Gov. Josh Green delivers remarks as President Joe Biden listens during a visit to an area devastated by wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 21, 2023. (Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)

Part of Cordery’s plan to create abundance includes adding 15,000 homes across the islands for working families, with prices ranging from roughly $400,000 to $600,000. His proposal calls for using state-owned land for fee-simple housing while streamlining permitting and opening more land for residential development.

An aerial view of the Kaanapali Alii resort in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Kaanapali Alii Facebook)

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He is also proposing eliminating the state’s General Excise Tax on food and medicine and freezing property taxes for homeowners at retirement. Cordery argues that the state is failing to properly manage taxpayers’ dollars and says he would order audits to root out waste.

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“Hawai’i’s 20.5 billion dollar budget for 1.4 mil[lion] people is a staggering number. New Hampshire has 1.4 million people but a $7.75 billion dollar budget,” Cordery said. “I believe our tax burden is out of control. The answer is management.”