Hawaii primaries: Lieutenant governor scandal, congressman's vote loom over races

Hawaii voters head to the polls for midterm primaries overshadowed by a corruption scandal. The race for lieutenant governor is particularly heated, with nine candidates seeking the nomination to succeed current Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke. Luke, a Democrat, faces bribery charges and has pleaded not guilty. Her office has been a traditional steppingstone to higher political roles in the state.

The Democratic field for lieutenant governor includes Kauai County Mayor Derek Kawakami, who leads in fundraising and has union backing. On the Republican side, Daniel Anthony was an early spender, though his campaign budget was a fraction of the leading Democrats'. The current lieutenant governor has been on unpaid leave since April, with Keith Regan serving as acting lieutenant governor.

In a notable congressional race, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Case faces a tough primary challenge in the 1st Congressional District. State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole is criticizing Case for his vote in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a Trump-backed election bill. Case has defended his vote, stating he supported a version that included accommodations for voters lacking specific documentation, and has opposed subsequent versions without such provisions.

Both Case and Keohokalole have matched each other in fundraising and spending. The primaries will determine who advances to the general election, with the lieutenant governor's race and Case's congressional seat drawing significant attention.