In Congressional District 1 (CD1), which covers most of urban Oʻahu, Democratic voters will choose between incumbent Ed Case and the candidates challenging him during the 2026 Hawaiʻi State primary elections on August 8, 2026.
In December 2025, IHSN invited all three Democratic primary candidates for the CD1 seat to join us for Talk Story interviews over Zoom. For each interview, IHSN members submitted questions in advance.
Two of the challengers accepted: Della Au Belatti and Jarrett Keohokalole. Ed Case declined.
Where we stand: October 2025 poll
In October 2025, Data for Progress surveyed 366 likely Democratic primary voters in CD1, in partnership with Our Hawaiʻi and Indivisible. The results paint a clear picture: Ed Case currently leads the primary, but without majority support, and with a large share of voters still undecided. Importantly, the race tightens significantly in a head-to-head matchup between Case and either challenger — and both challengers see their favorability jump sharply once voters learn more about them.
You can read the full press release and poll results for yourself.
Talk Story interviews with Della Au Belatti and Jarrett Keohokalole
State Representative Della Au Belatti has served Hawaiʻi's House District 26 since 2006.
→ Read more about her and watch her interview here.
State Senator Jarrett Keohokalole represents Kāneʻohe and Kailua, and has served in the state legislature since 2014.
→ Read more about him and watch his interview here.
Ed Case declined our invitation
We invited Ed Case to participate in December 2025, but he declined. His response disparages Indivisible Hawaiʻi as well as the survey Data for Progress conducted in October. He asked us to publish the email exchange in full, and we have done so: read the first invitation and his response (November 20, 2025), and the second invitation and his response (January 4, 2026).
What Hawaiʻi voters told us
Alongside the interviews, IHSN also conducted a voter survey in November 2025, asking Hawaiʻi voters what issues matter most to them, what they want in a representative, and what they would say to their congressperson face to face. 570 people responded.
The results are deep, detailed, and worth reading.
→ Read more about the Voice of Hawaiʻi Voters Survey here.
What comes next
IHSN will be endorsing a candidate ahead of the August 8 primary; we'll announce our endorsement on this page and through our newsletter.