Hawaii State Rep. Andria Tupola, daughter of Samoan Judge Bode Uale, topped the republican polls for the gubernatorial nomination.
A former music teacher serving her second term in the Legislature,Tupola defeated longtime Republican stalwart John Carroll on Saturday night in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
In final results, Tupola had 53.0 percent of the votes, compared to Carroll’s 33.7 percent. Ray L’Heureux, a former assistant superintendent for the state Department of Education, trailed with 8.8 percent, according to the state Office of Elections.
Tupola faces a monumental task in trying to upset the Democratic incumbent, Gov. David Ige, who defeated Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa on Saturday. Democrats dominate Hawaii politics, and there have only been two Republican governors in Hawaii since statehood.
