Veteran state lawmaker Sen. Donna Mercado Kim flexed her fundraising
muscle and raised more than $170,000 in campaign contributions so far to
support her run for the
U.S. House seat representing urban Honolulu.
Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Moanalua-Halawa) out-raised her Democratic opponents in the race, bringing in more than
twice as much as state Rep. Kaniela Ing (D, South Maui) and more than six times as much as state Attorney General Doug Chin for the reporting period covering Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.
Chin announced today that he will accept the vacated lieutenant governor position while he continues to run for Congress.
The three candidates and Honolulu City Councilman Ernie Martin are vying for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is campaigning for
governor against Gov. David Ige. Campaign finance
reports, which were due Wednesday, were not available for Martin; his campaign treasurer said Thursday the committee would file soon.
Kim’s campaign received $172,510 in contributions for the quarter, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. Ing’s campaign attracted $82,757 in donations for the three-month period while Chin’s campaign raised $27,535.
Kim’s campaign said in a statement that 95 percent of contributions came from supporters who reside in Hawaii.
Her donors included a mix of executives, businesses and individuals. First Hawaiian Bank Chairman Robert Harrison gave the campaign $2,700 along with FHB President Eric Yeaman, who donated $1,000. Grove Farm CEO Warren Haruki gave $2,700 while Matson Inc. Chairman Matthew Cox donated $2,000 and the Matson Inc. Federal Election Committee gave $5,000.
Bruce Coppa and Blake Oshiro of lobbying firm Capitol Consultants gave $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, while state Comptroller Rod Becker donated $1,000.
Under FEC rules, contributions by individuals to federal candidates are capped at $2,700 per election, for the primary and general elections. Donors can contribute toward
the general election in
advance.
Ing’s campaign, meanwhile, said the Maui representative received over
900 contributions of $10
or less, saying his campaign is “people-powered.”
Some of Ing’s larger donors included Robert
Wintner, founder of Snorkel Bob’s ($3,000); Raymond Jardine, president of Native Hawaiian Veterans LLC ($1,000); Garrett Marrero of Maui Brewing Co. ($1,000); and Maui County Council member Kelly King, who
co-founded renewable
energy company Pacific Biodiesel ($500).
Campaign contributions to Chin, who previously served as the city’s managing director, included money from attorneys and former city employees.
Donors included former Mayor Peter Carlisle ($1,000); Dr. Jim Ireland,
former head of the city
Department of Emergency Services ($1,000); Carrie Okinaga, former corporation counsel for the city ($500).