Souza, Medeiros Face Off in Hawaii House Race
Republicans Kanani Souza and Sheila Medeiros will contest the general election for State House District 43 after a tied primary.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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Kanani Souza and Sheila Medeiros, the Republican candidates who tied in the primary for State House District 43, will face each other in the General Election. The Hawaii Supreme Court ordered the tied primary to be re-run.
Why it matters
The tie in a single district's primary has led to a court-ordered re-run, shaping which candidate Republicans put forward for the seat. The outcome determines representation for residents of Kapolei and Makakilo in the Hawaii House.
Each Republican candidate received 842 votes, a tie that prompted the Hawaii Supreme Court to order a re-run of the primary. The re-run's result and the final General Election outcome are not yet known.
The players
Kanani Souza
Kanani Souza is a Republican state representative in Hawaii who has served State House District 43 since 2022 and is a licensed attorney in Hawaii and Washington, D.C.
Sheila Medeiros
Sheila Medeiros is a Republican candidate for State House District 43 and a retired U.S. Army veteran who served from 1986 to 2021.
The details
Souza, who has held the seat since 2022 and is a licensed attorney in Hawaii and Washington, D.C., represents Kapolei and Makakilo. Medeiros served in the U.S. Army from 1986 to 2021, and both candidates cite traffic as a major concern for district residents.
Timeline
2022: Souza assumed office in the Hawaii House.
1986 to 2021: Medeiros served in the U.S. Army.
Nov. 3, 2026: General Election; polls close at 7 p.m.
Legislative Policy
The tie and court-ordered re-run in District 43 illustrate how a single tied primary can alter the Republican ballot line in a Hawaii House race. The contest now moves to the General Election on Nov. 3, 2026.
Voters in State House District 43, including residents of Kapolei and Makakilo, will choose between the two Republican candidates in the General Election. The choice will determine who represents the district in the Hawaii House.
The takeaway
Voters in District 43 will decide the seat in November, and the candidates' stated focus on traffic offers a clear point for residents to weigh. Checking each candidate's platform before polls close can help inform that choice.
What happens next
The General Election between Souza and Medeiros takes place on Nov. 3, 2026, with polls closing at 7 p.m.
Further reading
For more on how state legislative rules shape races like this one, see Legislative Policy coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KHON2.
Live Poll
Do you think traffic and school crowding in your area are getting better or worse?
