The Democratic establishment has claimed a significant victory over the progressive challenge within the party. On Saturday, longtime Rep. Ed Case, a Democrat from Hawaii, won his primary and will continue his quest for another term in the House of Representatives. He defeated state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, a progressive.
Case, who previously served in Congress from 2002 to 2007 and won again in 2018, faced a tough primary battle this year. This contest was part of a wider conflict between traditional Democrats and the party’s far-left wing, which has seen numerous incumbents challenged by socialist candidates.
Challenge from the Left
Keohokalole, who has served in Hawaii’s state legislature since 2014, was a formidable opponent. He led a group of challengers aiming to unseat Case during this election cycle. Both candidates raised substantial campaign funds; however, Case began the race with a financial advantage.
Keohokalole criticized Case for not opposing the Trump administration strongly enough, particularly regarding immigration policies during Donald Trump’s second presidential term. Additionally, he attacked Case for supporting the Republican-sponsored Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in its initial iteration, which included a federal voter ID requirement and proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Legislative Decisions
The SAVE Act, which Case supported in April 2025, aimed to enforce voter ID requirements but allowed a written affidavit if proof was not available. Despite supporting this version, Case later opposed the SAVE America Act, which sought to expand federal control over state voter systems.
Case argued that the concerns over voter suppression were unfounded, emphasizing that there was no security threat in the election system. “This has nothing to do with voter suppression,” he stated, acknowledging the legitimacy of some fears while disagreeing with their basis.
Upcoming Election
Having won the primary, Case will contend with Republican Adriel Lam in the November election. Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District, which includes parts of Oahu and Honolulu, is considered a safe Democratic seat.
Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News Digital reports on politics and the House of Representatives. Follow her on Twitter @liz_elkind.
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