Gary Cordery has emerged as the Republican candidate for the governor’s race in Hawaii. Cordery, who owns a contracting company, won the GOP nomination by defeating business owner Ken Fujiyama in the primary held on Saturday.
In November, Cordery will face Democratic Governor Josh Green, who currently holds a significant advantage. The Cook Political Report classifies the race as Solid Democratic, with a Partisan Voting Index of D+13. Hawaii has not elected a Republican governor since Linda Lingle’s tenure ended in 2010. Cordery faces tough odds in a state known for its Democratic leanings.
Green, with an approval rating of 56%, also enjoys a substantial financial lead. His campaign has raised around $3.5 million, while Cordery has gathered about $313,000, as per Honolulu Civil Beat.
Despite these hurdles, Cordery focuses on a platform aimed at lowering Hawaii’s cost of living, educational reform, and tackling corruption. In an interview with Honolulu Civil Beat, he expressed his commitment to the people of Hawaii, saying, “As a husband, father and grandfather, businessman and community servant, I love Hawai’i. These islands have endured mismanagement for decades. I am running to open opportunity, create abundance and ensure stewardship of her resources, bringing accountability and hope for the people.”
Cordery’s vision for abundance includes constructing 15,000 homes for working families, with prices ranging from $400,000 to $600,000. His plan calls for utilizing state-owned land for affordable housing and simplifying the permitting process to facilitate residential development.
Additionally, he proposes removing the state’s General Excise Tax on food and medicine and freezing property taxes for retirees. Cordery argues that Hawaii’s financial management is ineffective, pointing to the state’s $20.5 billion budget for 1.4 million people. He contrasts this with New Hampshire’s $7.75 billion budget for the same population size and demands audits to uncover government inefficiencies.
Elaine Mallon, a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, reports on national politics.
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