The election needle twitched this week with a number of Republican candidates taking aim at legislators who were strong supporters of gay marriage during last year’s special session.

And there was also at least one case of a Democratic incumbent against same-sex marriage picking up a bevy of pro-same-sex marriage challengers.

For Hawaii, the issue of same-sex marriage has been twice resolved. First, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key portions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Then the Hawaii Legislature was convened in special session by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to pass a bill allowing men and women of the same gender to marry.

The hearings and testimony went on for days. The public was energized and groups both supporting and opposing the legislation filled the state Capitol.

The arguments had a polarizing character. Opponents were not only against the bill, they felt that the end result was predetermined and the people’s will was ignored.

Of course, one could argue that the end result was guaranteed: The Legislature did not go into special session because it didn’t want to enact same-sex marriage.

Opportunities in politics are what you make of them. So if someone feels hurt, misunderstood and disrespected, politics will provide people to bind the wounds and spread the salve.

In this case, the EMTs are arriving in a GOP ambulance.

"The special session was a display of the larger issue of our state government not serving the interests of the majority of people in Hawaii," says Dylan Nonaka, a local Republican strategist.

The cry from those against gay marriage was first, "Let the people speak," and then, "Let the people vote."

The marathon hearings were testaments to free speech, but the ability to put the issue of gay marriage up to a vote was not going to happen, and after the Supreme Court decision, it probably would not have held up even if Hawaii passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

"None of these candidates are running on SSM (same-sex marriage) alone but it looks like it has energized a new group of voters to support the ones who are defenders of traditional marriage," Nonaka said.

Kapolei-Makakilo Democrat Rep. Sharon Har voted against gay marriage during the special session. She says she has drawn both Democratic and GOP opponents as the issue of representation surges.

"The question is not that of same-sex marriage, but through SSM, how well did each representative serve their constituencies. The issue of SSM is the proxy for the real issue: representation and conduct. The way that SSM was handled ensured virtually every race would be in play," Har said in an interview.

Har says Kailua Republican Rep. Cynthia Thielen, an absolute bedrock of the Windward side GOP, who is usually unopposed, has now drawn a primary opponent.

It was Thielen’s vote for gay marriage in the judiciary committee that guaranteed the bill would make it to the floor for a vote.

"People who used to fly under the radar were exposed during SSM not because of their vote per se, but because it invited scrutiny from people who were otherwise disengaged and disconnected," said Har.

Thielen says, "Kailua residents appreciate a representative who has deep roots in the community and who can be effective in the Legislature. I am continuing to work hard to represent all of Kailua’s varied interests and residents, and don’t focus on single issues," said Thielen in an interview.

Will all that twitching actually move the needle in the fall elections? As we like to say, it remains to be seen.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.