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Hawaii House of Representatives District 12

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Hawaii House of Representatives District 12

Incumbent

Assumed office: 2004

Hawaii House of Representatives District 12 is represented by Kyle Yamashita (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Hawaii state representatives represented an average of 28,630 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 26,801 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Hawaii House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Each two-year term begins on the day of the general election.[1] Hawaii legislators assume office on the day they are elected in the general election.[2]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

From Article III, Section 6 of the Hawaii Constitution: "No person shall be eligible to serve as a member of the house of representatives unless the person has been a resident of the State for not less than three years, has attained the age of majority and is, prior to filing nomination papers and thereafter continues to be, a qualified voter of the representative district from which the person seeks to be elected; except that in the year of the first general election following reapportionment, but prior to the primary election, an incumbent representative may move to a new district without being disqualified from completing the remainder of the incumbent representative’s term."[3]

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[4]
SalaryPer diem
$74,160/year$225/day; only for legislators who do not reside on Oahu.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Hawaii State Legislature for a term that ends at the next general election, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement. The governor must appoint a replacement within 60 days after the vacancy happens. The candidate is selected from a list of three prospective candidates submitted by the political party that last held the vacant seat. The party has thirty days after the vacancy to submit a list of prospective candidates. If the person leaving the seat is an independent (no party affiliation), the governor must select a resident from the vacant district that is not a member of any political party.[5][6]

In the event of a vacancy for a term that does not end at the next general election, the vacancy shall be filled by a special election at the next general election or by appointment. If the vacancy occurs no later than the 10th day before the close of filing for the next succeeding primary election, the unexpired term will be filled during the subsequent general election. If the vacancy occurs after the 60th day before the next succeeding primary but no later than the 50th day before the next succeeding general election, the unexpired term will be filled during the subsequent general election. The chief election officer shall issue a proclamation of the special election. If the vacancy occurs after the fiftieth day before the next succeeding general election, the governor is required to make an appointment to fill the unexpired term. The appointee will be selected from a list of three prospective candidates submitted by the political party that last held the vacant seat.[5]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Hawaii Const. Art. 3, Sec. 5, Hawaii Rev. Stat., §17-3, and Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 17-4

District map

Redistricting

2020-2022

See also: Redistricting in Hawaii after the 2020 census


The Hawaii Reapportionment Commission approved new legislative district maps on January 28, 2022.[7] The commission's Technical Committee Permitted Interaction Group initially presented the state legislative map plans to the commission for consideration on October 14, 2021. The map plans were approved for public comment on October 28.[8] On January 6, the commission approved a motion to modify the legislative map plans after learning the initial plans had not properly accounted for the number of nonpermanent resident personnel on military installations in the state, who are not included in legislative redistricting. Under the modified proposal, one legislative district would be moved from Oahu to Hawaii.[9][10] This map took effect for Hawaii's 2022 state legislative elections.

How does redistricting in Hawaii work? In Hawaii, a nine-member commission draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. The majority and minority leaders of the Hawaii State Senate and Hawaii House of Representatives each select two members. These eight members then select a ninth tie-breaking commissioner. If the commission is unable to reach an agreement on a ninth member, the Hawaii Supreme Court must make the appointment.[11]

Both congressional and state legislative district boundaries must be contiguous and compact. In addition, where possible, district lines "must follow permanent and easily recognized features ... and coincide with census tracts." In addition, "districts must also avoid submerging one area in another with substantially different predominant socioeconomic interests." No district can be drawn "to unduly favor a person or political faction."[11]

State law permits state legislative districts to be multimember, but a maximum of four representatives can be elected from a single district.[11]

Hawaii House of Representatives District 12
until November 7, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Hawaii House of Representatives District 12
starting November 8, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

Democratic primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Green primary election

2022

See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

Democratic primary election

Republican primary election

Green primary election

2020

See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2020

Democratic primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

The general election was canceled. Incumbent Kyle Yamashita won election in the general election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 12.

Democratic primary election

2016

See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Hawaii House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.

Incumbent Kyle Yamashita ran unopposed in the Hawaii House of Representatives District 12 general election.[12]


Incumbent Kyle Yamashita defeated Tiare Lawrence in the Hawaii House of Representatives District 12 Democratic primary.[13][14]

Hawaii House of Representatives, District 12 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Kyle Yamashita Incumbent 53.40% 2,763
     Democratic Tiare Lawrence 46.60% 2,411
Total Votes 5,174

2014

See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Hawaii House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Incumbent Kyle T. Yamashita was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Richard H. Pohle was unopposed in the Republican primary. Yamashita defeated Pohle in the general election.[15][16][17]

Hawaii House of Representatives, District 12, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKyle T. Yamashita Incumbent 77.3% 6,639
     Republican Richard H. Pohle 22.7% 1,950
Total Votes 8,589

2012

See also: Hawaii House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Hawaii House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 11, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 5, 2012. Incumbent Kyle Yamashita (D) defeated Ekolu Kalama (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[18][19]

Hawaii House of Representatives, District 12, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKyle Yamashita Incumbent 78.2% 7,457
     Republican Ekolu Kalama 21.8% 2,081
Total Votes 9,538

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Hawaii House of Representatives District 12 raised a total of $1,102,437. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $34,451 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Hawaii House of Representatives District 12
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $143,679 4 $35,920
2022 $107,209 3 $35,736
2020 $104,890 2 $52,445
2018 $131,988 2 $65,994
2016 $76,449 2 $38,225
2014 $56,282 2 $28,141
2012 $72,154 2 $36,077
2010 $59,975 3 $19,992
2008 $130,510 3 $43,503
2006 $61,894 2 $30,947
2004 $97,711 3 $32,570
2002 $37,150 2 $18,575
2000 $22,546 2 $11,273
Total $1,102,437 32 $34,451

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named con
  2. Legislative Reference Bureau, "Hawaii Constitution, Article III, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  3. LRB Legislative Reference Bureau, "The Constitution of the State of Hawaii," accessed February 10, 2023
  4. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  5. 5.0 5.1 Hawaii Legislature, "Hawaii Revised Statutes," accessed May 22, 2014 (Statute 17-3(a) (1)-(2))
  6. Hawaii Legislature, "Hawaii Revised Statutes," accessed May 22, 2014 (Statute 17-4(a)-(b))
  7. State of Hawaii, "Regular Meeting of the Reapportionment Commission - January 28, 2022," accessed February 4, 2022
  8. Patch.com, "The Plan To Redraw Hawaii's Political Lines Goes Out For Public Comment," Oct. 29, 2021
  9. Honolulu Civil Beat, "The Big Island Is Set To Gain A House Seat As Reapportionment Restarts," Jan. 6, 2021
  10. Office of Elections, "Reapportionment Commission," accessed Oct. 20, 2021
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 All About Redistricting, "Hawaii," accessed April 29, 2015
  12. State of Hawaii, "General Election 2016 - State of Hawaii – Statewide November 8, 2016," accessed November 23, 2016
  13. State of Hawaii, "2016 Candidate Report," accessed June 10, 2016
  14. Hawaii.gov, "Primary Election results," accessed September 12, 2016
  15. Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed June 6, 2014
  16. Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed August 25, 2014
  17. Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 12, 2014
  18. Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed November 20, 2012
  19. State of Hawaii Office of Elections, “Hawaii General 2012 - State of Hawaii – Statewide,” accessed November 20, 2012

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Nadine Nakamura

Majority Leader:Sean Quinlan

Minority Leader:Lauren Matsumoto

Representatives

Democratic Party (42)

Republican Party (9)

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