Hawaii rep cruises to Dem primary win after challenger arrested for beach brawl

Progressive Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, cruised to victory in her primary on Saturday, setting up a showdown with Republican state Sen. Brenton Awa in November.

Tokuda is seeking a third term representing Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes the entire state outside the island of Oahu, as well as rural and suburban parts of Oahu itself.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the district D+12. That means it’s highly likely that Democrats keep hold of it in this year’s midterms.

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Tokuda defeated three primary challengers to win the Democratic Party nomination, though none posed a significant threat to her campaign despite a wider intraparty civil war that’s toppled several House Democrat incumbents throughout the country.

Her fellow delegation member, Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, faced a significant primary challenge from his left in his own race, though Case is seen as much more moderate than Tokuda.

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Tokuda’s race did attract some controversy, however, after one of her longshot opponents was arrested for a violent altercation that was caught on camera at Keawakapu Beach.

Kirill Basin allegedly threatened a man who asked him to turn down his music, according to Honolulu Civil Beat.

A violent clash ensued after a bystander intervened, and Basin allegedly pulled out a knife.

Tokuda told Hawaii News Now that the video was “disturbing” and said “any individual, whether you’re running for office or a public citizen, you need to be held accountable for your actions.”