Your vote counts in today’s primary election

After months of political sound and fury, it all comes down to something significant today: primary election 2018. Up for voters’ consideration are the heated race for Hawaii governor; two U.S. House seats; a U.S. Senate job; a plethora of state Legislature seats, including many to be decided in today’s primary; City Council races; and Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees. In addition, Maui and Kauai voters will cast for mayors and county councils.

Hawaii has a notoriously low voter turnout rate, which is shameful considering how large local government looms over our daily lives, and how much our elected officials shape public policies and the state’s direction. So if you’ve yet to register to vote in today’s election, here’s your chance: For the first time ever, there is same-day registration, so there’s no excuse.

For more election information, as well as last-minute research on the candidates, see elections.staradvertiser.com. Below is a recap of the Star-Advertiser’s endorsements in contested Oahu primary races. Agree or disagree — but vote. Your opinion does count.

GOVERNOR:

The next four years for Hawaii requires more overt leadership than incumbent David Ige seems willing to muster, so Colleen Hanabusa gets our nod for a turn at the helm on the Democratic side of today’s ballot. The congresswoman’s deep understanding of Hawaii government and the state’s unique potential are solid assets that could move the needle on solutions for such problems as housing for the homeless and lower-income residents.

On the Republican side, state legislator Andria Tupola gets our vote.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:

Amid a strong field of public-service Democrats, Jill Tokuda has the skills set, strategic thinking and drive to infuse this second-in-command office with proposals that could yield substantive public policy, especially for working-class families. Among the Republicans, Steve Lipscomb articulates a multifaceted plan to advance the “three E’s” of economy, education and environment.

1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

Ed Case’s previous service in the U.S. House yielded a respectable balance of benefits for Hawaii, from his involvement in establishing the Papahanaumokuakea National Monument to opposing Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard’s closure. A politically moderate “blue dog” Democrat, he would be an asset in these polarized times in Congress.

2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

Incumbent Tulsi Gabbard’s national visibility is a plus for Hawaii, though she ignored issues-oriented debates that would have benefited hometown voters.

U.S. SENATE:

Among the Republican hopefuls, military veteran Robert Helsham gets our nod to face Democratic incumbent Mazie Hirono, unopposed in the primary, in November.

STATE SENATE:

Of the Senate’s 25 seats, 13 are up for election this year — and of these, only one incumbent, Breene Harimoto (District 16, Pearl City), is running unopposed today. On Oahu, six Senate seats have contested races today; here are our endorsements for those contested six.

>> District 12 (Kakaako-Waikiki): Sharon Moriwaki (D)

>> District 18 (Mililani-Waikele- Kunia): Emil Svrcina (R)

>> District 19 (Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point): Matt LoPresti (D)

>> District 21 (Kalaeloa- Waianae-Makaha): Maile Shimabukuro (D)

>> District 23 (Heeia-Laie-Waialua), winner-take-all primary: Gil Riviere (D)

>> District 24 (Kailua-Kaneohe), another winner-take-all race: Jarrett Keohokalole (D)

STATE HOUSE:

On Oahu, 15 House seats have contested races in the primary; here are our picks in these specific races.

>> District 20 (Palolo-St. Louis Heights-Kaimuki): Julia Allen (R)

>> District 23 (Manoa-Punahou-Moiliili), winner-take-all primary: Dale Kobayashi (D)

>> District 29 (Chinatown-Iwilei-Kalihi): another winner-take-all contest: Daniel Holt (D)

>> District 30 (Sand Island-Kalihi-Airport): Ernesto (Sonny) Ganaden (D)

>> District 33 (Halawa-Aiea-Newtown), winner take all: Sam Kong (D)

>> District 36 (Mililani-Mililani Mauka-Waipio Acres): Dean Hazama (D)

>> District 41 (Ewa Villages- Ocean Pointe-Ewa Beach): Lynn Robinson-Onderko (D)

>> District 42 (Kapolei-Makakilo), winner take all: Sharon Har (D)

>> District 43 (Kalaeloa-Ko Olina-Maili): Stacelynn Eli (D)

>> District 44 (Waianae-Makaha-Makua), winner take all: Cedric Gates (D)

>> District 46 (Wahiawa-Whitmore Village): Amy Perruso (D)

>> District 47 (Waialua to Kaaawa): Boyd Ready (R)

>> District 48 (Kahaluu-Ahuimanu), winner take all: Jessica Wooley (D)

>> District 49 (Heeia-Kaneohe- Maunawili): Scot Matayoshi (D)

>> District 50 (Kailua-Kaneohe): Micah Pregitzer (D)

CITY COUNCIL:

To win outright, a candidate must get more than 50 percent of votes cast in his/her race; otherwise, the top two advance to November’s general. Our Saturday picks:

>> District 2 (Mililani Mauka-Kahaluu): Heidi Tsuneyoshi

>> District 4 (Hawaii Kai-Ala Moana Park): Trevor Ozawa

>> District 6 (Makiki-Kalihi): Carol Fukunaga