Gary Cordery, who operates a contracting business, has clinched the Republican nomination for governor in Hawaii. He emerged victorious from Saturday's primary contest, besting fellow business owner Ken Fujiyama. Cordery is now slated to challenge Democratic Governor Josh Green in the upcoming November general election.
An Uphill Battle for the GOP Challenger
The path to the governor's mansion presents a significant challenge for Cordery, as the race is widely regarded as heavily favoring the incumbent. Political analysts, such as The Cook Political Report, classify the contest as "Solid Democratic," indicating a Partisan Voting Index of D+13. Hawaii has not elected a Republican governor since Linda Lingle's term concluded in 2010, marking over a decade of Democratic leadership in the state's highest office.
Beyond the state's long-standing Democratic leanings and the formidable presence of an incumbent governor boasting a 56% approval rating, Cordery also confronts a substantial financial disparity. Governor Green's campaign has amassed approximately $3.5 million, according to reports from Honolulu Civil Beat, significantly eclipsing Cordery's fundraising total of around $313,000.
Cordery's Platform and Vision for Hawaii
Despite these considerable obstacles, Cordery is presenting voters with a platform focused on critical issues for the islands. His campaign centers on initiatives aimed at reducing Hawaii's elevated cost of living, implementing reforms within the education system, and aggressively tackling government corruption.
Expressing his deep connection to the state, Cordery shared his perspective in an interview:
As a husband, father and grandfather, businessman and community servant, I love Hawai’i. These islands of unique beauty have endured mismanagement for decades. Her people live under tremendous stress and anxiety. I am running to open opportunity, create abundance and ensure stewardship of her resources, bringing accountability and hope for the people.
A core component of Cordery's strategy to foster economic "abundance" involves the development of 15,000 new homes across the Hawaiian islands specifically for working families. These residences would be priced in a range of approximately $400,000 to $600,000. His proposal advocates for utilizing state-owned land for fee-simple housing, while also pushing for streamlined permitting processes and the allocation of additional land for residential construction.
In an effort to alleviate the financial burden on residents, Cordery is also proposing the elimination of the state's General Excise Tax on essential goods like food and medicine. Additionally, he suggests freezing property taxes for homeowners upon their retirement. Cordery contends that the state is not effectively managing taxpayer funds and has pledged to initiate comprehensive audits to identify and eliminate wasteful spending.
He underscored his concerns regarding state spending, stating:
Hawai’i’s 20.5 billion dollar budget for 1.4 mil[lion] people is a staggering number. New Hampshire has 1.4 million people but a $7.75 billion dollar budget. I believe our tax burden is out of control. The answer is management.