NEW YORK, Aug 9 (Reuters) – U.S. Representative Ed Case easily fended off a Democratic primary challenge from a progressive rival for one of Hawaii’s congressional seats, election results showed late Saturday.
Case’s victory over Jarrett Keohokalole, 43, marks the latest front of the battle roiling U.S. Democratic politics in which seasoned lawmakers have been pitted against more progressive newcomers.
Case, 73, won 57% of the votes in his district, compared with Keohokalole’s 34%, official results showed. Neither could be reached immediately for comment on Sunday.
Three others had also sought the Democratic nomination for the Honolulu-based district that is seen as safely Democratic.
Case, widely seen as a moderate, has held the seat since 2019, and also served in the House between 2002 and 2007.
He holds a senior position on a key spending committee and has argued Hawaii will attract fewer federal dollars if he is not reelected. Keohokalole highlighted Case’s campaign donations from businesses to argue he has lost touch with voters.
Case’s win stands out from a recent surge for left-wing candidates in states including Colorado, Kentucky and New York.
In Hawaii’s other congressional district, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda easily won her Democratic primary with 84% of the vote.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green, who has led the state since 2022, also defeated several challengers for the Democratic nomination.
(Reporting by Chris Prentice in New York; Editing by Sergio Non and Alexander Smith)
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