HAWAII — Sixteen Democratic and Republican legislators and five county council incumbents face no opposition and will automatically return to office in the Hawaii Aug. 8 primary elections. The lack of challengers means these officials will skip the partisan or nonpartisan contests scheduled for that date and proceed directly to their next terms.

All 51 state House seats are up for election this year. In the upper chamber, 14 of the 25 state Senate seats are up for election this year. With no candidates filing to challenge them by the state’s nomination deadline, the 21 incumbents will be declared winners without a vote being cast in their respective races.

House Republican caucus leader Lauren Matsumoto Cheape is among the unopposed lawmakers. Cheape, a Republican representing Mililani, Waipio Acres, and Mililani Mauka, leads the House Republican caucus. She will be reelected automatically during the Republican Party primary due to the absence of any filed opposition. Her district, House District 35, has not drawn any Democratic or independent challengers.

Three other state senators join Kouchi in returning to office without a primary fight. State Sen. Troy Hashimoto, a Democrat representing Wailuku, Kahului, and Waihee, is an incumbent with no challenger. Sen. Glenn Wakai, a Democrat representing Kalihi, Salt Lake, and Pearl Harbor, is an incumbent with no challenger. Sen. Mike Gabbard, a Democrat representing Kapolei, Makakilo, and Kalaeloa, is an incumbent with no challenger. All three hold Senate seats in districts where no other candidates submitted nomination papers.

House Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett, a Democrat representing Manoa, is an incumbent with no challenger. Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto, a Democrat representing Ala Moana, Kakaako, and Downtown, is an incumbent with no challenger. Rep. Jenna Takenouchi, a Democrat representing Pacific Heights, Nuuanu, and Liliha, is an incumbent with no challenger. Rep. David Alcos III, a Republican representing Ocean Pointe and Barbers Point, is an incumbent with no challenger. Each of these representatives filed for reelection, and no opponents entered the race before the filing deadline.

Rep. Sam Satoru Kong, a Democrat representing Aiea and Waimalu, is an incumbent with no challenger. Rep. Cory Chun, a Democrat representing Pearl City, Waipahu, and Waikele, is an incumbent with no challenger. Rep. Lisa Kitagawa, a Democrat representing Kaaawa, Kahaluu, and Kaneohe, is an incumbent with no challenger. Their uncontested status was confirmed after the Office of Elections reviewed candidate filings.

Honolulu Council member Val Okimoto is an incumbent who will automatically return to office. Okimoto's district includes portions of Aiea, Pearl City, Waipio Gentry, Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka. She is running as a Republican and faces no opposition in the August primary. On Maui, two council members face no opposition. Maui County Council member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, who represents Kaunakakai, is an incumbent who will automatically return to office. She is unopposed in the nonpartisan primary for her seat.

Hawaii Island also sees unopposed council incumbents. Hawaii Council Chair Holeka Inaba, representing North Kona, is an incumbent who will automatically return to office. Hawaii Council member James Hustace, representing North and South Kohala, is an incumbent who will automatically return to office. Both filed for reelection and encountered no competition by the candidate submission deadline.

The election rules determine how winners are declared in these contests. The top vote-getters in the primaries automatically win with a simple majority of all votes cast, except for the Kauai County primaries. If no one wins outright during the primaries, the top two vote-getters go to a runoff in the Nov. 3 general election. Kauai operates under a different rule for its local contests. On Kauai, the top two vote getters in the party primaries go to a runoff in the general election, regardless of whether a candidate receives a majority in the primary.

Uncontested races reduce voter choices in certain districts but streamline the election process for officeholders who maintain broad support or face low-profile challenges. State election officials note that the number of unopposed candidates is consistent with recent election cycles.