State House Democrats are locked in a power struggle over whether Speaker Calvin Say or Rep. Joseph Souki, the former speaker who has the backing of a dissident faction, should control the chamber.
Say, who has held power since he replaced Souki as speaker 13 years ago, had 22 votes as of late Friday afternoon, sources say. Souki, who has aligned with dissidents in an attempt to regain power, had 21 votes. One newly elected Democrat who was thought to be leaning toward the dissident faction was undecided.
Twenty-six votes are needed to control the 51-member House, but majority Democrats, who hold 44 seats after Tuesday’s elections, would prefer to organize without the help of the seven Republicans.
"Both sides are still negotiating," Say said, describing it as an internal discussion within the caucus.
Say’s allies, speaking privately, said the speaker is again prepared to push the deadlock to the opening day of the Legislature in mid-January. An internal leadership fight after the 2010 elections ended at opening day with Say as speaker and his allies in place as majority leader and House Finance Committee chairman, with a dissident in charge of the House Judiciary Committee.
Dissidents, however, believe Say’s camp is not as strong as it was two years ago. Their alliance with Souki, a veteran Maui lawmaker who shares Say’s skills at back-room negotiating, gives the dissidents a tool they have not had in previous challenges to the 60-year-old Say (D, Palolo-St. Louis Heights-Kaimuki), the longest-serving speaker since statehood.
Many dissidents view the 79-year-old Souki (D, Waihee-Waiehu-Wailuku) as the instrument to break Say’s lock on the House but not as a long-term option as speaker. The dissident faction has been led by Rep. Sylvia Luke (D, Punchbowl-Pauoa-Nuuanu) and Rep. Scott Saiki (D, Downtown-Kakaako-McCully).
House Republicans, meanwhile, on Friday chose Rep. Aaron Johanson (R, Fort Shafter-Moanalua Gardens-Aliamanu) as their minority leader, replacing Rep. Gene Ward (R, Kalama Valley-Queen’s Gate-Hawaii Kai), the leader for the past two years.
Johanson, who was first elected in 2010, will preside over a caucus where four of seven lawmakers — including himself — are under the age of 33. "There’s a lot of youth and energy coming into the caucus," he said.
Johanson said the challenge for Republicans is to "provide a different perspective and add to the dialogue so that the people of Hawaii get the best possible legislation and policy outcomes for maximum benefit."
Republicans lost a House seat in Tuesday’s elections and need to develop a long-term strategy to regain influence at the Legislature. Some believe the younger lawmakers could be the catalyst.
"I think we’re changing the face of the GOP," said Rep. Beth Fukumoto (R, Mililani-Mililani Mauka-Waipio Acres), the only Republican on Tuesday to defeat an incumbent Democrat, former Rep. Marilyn Lee.
Senate Democrats quickly organized after the election, retaining the leadership team of Senate President Shan Tsutsui (D, Waihee-Wailuku-Kahului), Senate Vice President Donna Mercado Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Moanalua-Halawa) and Senate Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria (D, Kakaako-McCully-Waikiki). Sen. David Ige (D, Pearl Harbor-Pearl City-Aiea) also kept his post as chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
