Hawaii Senator Brenton Awa Leaves GOP for Independent

State Senator Brenton Awa has left the Republican Party to register as an Independent, leaving two Republicans in the state Senate.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Political Parties

Hawaii Senator Brenton Awa Leaves GOP for Independent

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Hawaii State Senator Brenton Awa has left the Republican Party to become an Independent. Two Republican senators remain in the state Senate, and Samantha DeCorte now leads the two-person Republican caucus as Minority Leader.

Why it matters

Awa said the Republican label has become a liability in Hawaii and that national issues affecting the party reduced Republican support among Hawaii voters. The switch further shrinks the GOP presence in the Hawaii State Senate.

Two Republican senators remain in the Hawaii State Senate after Awa's switch, and Awa has two years left on his current term. The source does not detail any vote counts or legislative consequences of the change.

The players

Brenton Awa

Brenton Awa is a Hawaii State Senator who previously ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Congress before leaving the Republican Party.

Samantha DeCorte

Samantha DeCorte is a Hawaii Republican state senator who now serves as Minority Leader of the two-member Republican caucus.

The details

Awa officially left the Republican Party to register as an Independent, a change that followed his unsuccessful run for U.S. Congress. The move shifted minority leadership, with Samantha DeCorte now heading the two-member Republican caucus.

Awa's party switch was reported following his unsuccessful congressional bid, dated November 11, 2026.

Political Context

Awa's switch reinforces the pattern of Republican weakness in Hawaii's legislature, where Democrats have long held dominant majorities. Awa's own account, that the Republican label has become a liability in the state, points to the difficulty GOP officeholders face in a Democratic-leaning electorate.

For Hawaii voters, the switch means fewer Republican voices in the state Senate, with only two GOP senators remaining. Residents who identify with the Republican Party may find fewer local options on the ballot, according to analysts' projections.

The takeaway

Party labels carry real weight in one-party states, and a senator's decision to leave a party can signal broader shifts in how voters view it. Readers should watch whether other Hawaii Republicans follow the same path in upcoming election cycles.