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 Incumbent |  Daniel Inouye(D) |
| Opponent | Crystal Young(R) |
| Race outlook | Strong Democratic |
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye is facing little to no challenge from his Republican opponent, Crystal Young.
Young is one of only three Republican women running for the Senate this year, joining Rep. Linda Smith in Washington and Donna Nalewaja in South Dakota. The state Republican Party believes Young emerged from a field of eight other primary opponents solely because her name was the only non-male, non-Caucasian name on the ballot. Since her September 19th primary victory, Young -who has no campaign organization- has held no public campaign events.
Republicans have decided, rather than wage an expensive campaign against Inouye, they are focusing their attention and resources on defeating incumbent Democratic Gov. Ben Cayetano.
High approval ratings and a non-competitive Young basically ensure Inouye a seventh term. 74-year-old Inouye has hinted that this may be his last term in office.
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Incumbent | Governor Ben Cayetano(D) |
| Opponent | Maui Mayor Linda Lingle(R) |
| Race outlook | Toss up |
For this year's race, Republican challenger Linda Lingle could have borrowed Bill Clinton's 1992 slogan, "It's the economy, stupid." Hawaii has been mired in an economic slump, while the rest of the nation has been prospering. Hawaiians are anxious to turn things around, and there is a good chance that first-term Governor Ben Cayetano (D) could be a casualty. If Lingle wins, she will be the first woman governor of Hawaii and the first Republican to be elected to that post since 1962. The economy has been the dominant issue in the race from the onset. Lingle has been stressing her record as Mayor of Maui County, which has outperformed the rest of the state on key economic factors. Under her leadership the county added jobs while the rest of the state lost them. Cayetano has been trying to stem the tide of change with advertising reminding voters what he has done as governor: cut income taxes, reduced government growth and brought Hawaii back from the brink of insolvency. Campaign ads also have emphasized his integrity. Recently, he has criticized Lingle=s ethics for using taxpayer funds to hire her then-husband to do legal work. He also has suggested that someone with a family and children is better equipped to run the state. Lingle, who is divorced with no children, lashed out at this personal attack on her. Mudslinging aside, it is still the economy driving the elction. Lingle has held a double-digit lead in the polls for months. Yet, Hawaii is traditionally one of the most Democratic states in the nation. Prominent Democrats, including popular Senator Daniel Inouye, are making a huge push to prop up Cayetano. Lingle has an edge going in to the election, but it is far from a sure thing. |
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Incumbent | size=2>NEIL ABERCROMBIE (D) -- age 60 Elected in 1990 |
| Opponent size=2>s | Gene Ward (R) Fmr State House Minority Leader Nicholas Bedworth (Natural Law) Computer Network Consut/1996 nominee |
| Outlook | Leans Democratic |
| District Profile; | Honolulu - Pearl City .1996 House: size=2>D-50% R-46% |
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Incumbent | size=2>PATSY MINK (D) -- age 70 Elected in 1990 |
| Opponents | Carol Douglass (R) College Student Noreen Leilehua Chun (Libertarian) Epidemiological |
| Outlook | Strong Democrat |
| District Profile; | size=2> Suburban and Outer Oahu - "Neighbor Islands" face=Verdana>. 1996 House:D-60%R-31% |