Hawaii PACs Shifted Funding to Ballot Initiatives
Political action committees redirected resources from candidate support to ballot measure advertising this election cycle.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Hawaii campaign finance reports filed on October 1, 2026, reveal that political action committees are pivoting spending toward ballot initiatives. This strategic shift follows a primary election that left many candidates without significant opposition.
Why it matters
The redirection of funds suggests that special interest groups are prioritizing long-term policy goals over individual candidate races. With many seats effectively secured, the focus has moved to constitutional and charter amendments.
PACs raised $5.5 million and spent $5.7 million during the latest period, a significant total compared to the $1.1 million raised by candidates. Voters will decide on various state and county ballot initiatives on November 3, 2026.
The players
Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission
This state agency oversees and enforces the disclosure requirements for campaign contributions and expenditures in Hawaii elections.
RISE Together Hawaii
This is a super PAC recently created by the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters to influence political outcomes in the state.
Yuki Lei Sugimura
A political candidate who received $653,575 in independent expenditures from the For A Better Tomorrow super PAC.
Gary Cordery
A gubernatorial candidate who successfully raised over $400,000 for his campaign efforts throughout this election cycle.
Rachele Lamosao
A state Senate candidate who raised $181,000 in campaign funds during the current election season.
The details
Super PACs, including the newly formed RISE Together Hawaii, have moved financial resources toward ballot measure advertising. Meanwhile, candidates like Gary Cordery and Rachele Lamosao reported fundraising totals of $400,000 and $181,000 respectively, reflecting a broader slowdown in candidate-specific donations.
Timeline
August 8, 2026: Hawaii primary election occurred.
August 9 – September 26, 2026: Most recent campaign finance reporting period.
October 1, 2026: Campaign finance reports filed with the commission.
November 3, 2026: General election and ballot initiative voting.
Political Context
Opponents of increased PAC involvement argue that massive spending on ballot measures distorts public discourse and shifts power away from local voters. These critics emphasize that the influx of external capital can overwhelm community-led advocacy efforts during the amendment process.
Voters should prepare for an increase in political advertising focused on specific ballot measures rather than individual candidates. This influx of PAC funding may lead to more complex and frequent mailers regarding constitutional and charter amendments before election day.
The takeaway
The pivot from candidate-based spending to ballot measure funding reflects a strategic shift in how interest groups leverage their resources. Residents should carefully review the specific amendments on their November ballots to understand the impact of this increased advertising.
What happens next
Voters will head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide on the proposed state constitutional and city and county charter amendments.
Further reading
For more on the current state of local voting, view our Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Honolulu Civil Beat.
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