Hawaii lawmaker is guaranteed an election win. But there's one problem

Voters in Hawaii’s 1st House District will face an unusual situation in the upcoming state primary: Rep. Mark Nakashima, 61, passed away on July 11 yet will still appear on the ballot as a viable candidate.

According to the Hawaii Office of Elections, his name will stay on the ballots since they were printed before his passing. Nakashima was the only candidate running for the seat, assuring his victory.

“Given that the Honorable Mark. M. Nakashima would have met (the electoral) requirements, he would have been declared duly and legally elected after the Primary Election,” Hawaii Chief Election Officer Scott Nago said in a statement after the sole candidate’s death.

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Once the results are tabulated and a winner is announced, Gov. Josh Green must appoint someone within 60 days from a list of three candidates submitted by Nakashima’s political party, the Democratic Party.

Nakashima, 61, had battled diabetes for years and faced significant health complications, according to his family. He also received a kidney transplant in January 2023.

Nakashima served as chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, chairman of the Committee on Economic Development, chairman of the Committee on Labor and Public Employment and vice chairman of the Higher Education Committee.

“Rep. Nakashima’s legacy of service, dedication to education, and commitment to sustainable energy will continue to inspire us all,” said Green. “He was a gentle yet fierce advocate for Hawaii’s residents, and we honor his memory and contributions to our community and state.”

On social media, many constituents shared condolences and praised Nakashima’s service. “Mark Nakashima was a fine community leader,” Lark J. Morin of Lāhainā, Maui, said. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hawaii lawmaker’s death creates ballot complication for voters