Hawaii State Senate District 12

Hawaii State Senate District 12 is represented by Sharon Moriwaki (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Hawaii state senators represented an average of 58,405 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 54,674 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Hawaii State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Hawaii legislators assume office on the day they are elected in the general election.^[1]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

From Article III, Section 6 of the Hawaii Constitution: "No person shall be eligible to serve as a member of the senate unless the person has been a resident of the State for not less than three years, has attained the age of majority and is, prior to filing nomination papers and thereafter continues to be, a qualified voter of the senatorial district from which the person seeks to be elected; except that in the year of the first general election following reapportionment, but prior to the primary election, an incumbent senator may move to a new district without being disqualified from completing the remainder of the incumbent senator’s term."^[2]

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2024^[3]
Salary	Per diem
$74,160/year	$225/day; only for legislators who do not reside on Oahu.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Hawaii State Legislature for a term that ends at the next general election, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement. The governor must appoint a replacement within 60 days after the vacancy happens. The candidate is selected from a list of three prospective candidates submitted by the political party that last held the vacant seat. The party has thirty days after the vacancy to submit a list of prospective candidates. If the person leaving the seat is an independent (no party affiliation), the governor must select a resident from the vacant district that is not a member of any political party.^[4]^[5]

In the event of a vacancy for a term that does not end at the next general election, the vacancy shall be filled by a special election at the next general election or by appointment. If the vacancy occurs no later than the 10th day before the close of filing for the next succeeding primary election, the unexpired term will be filled during the subsequent general election. If the vacancy occurs after the 60th day before the next succeeding primary but no later than the 50th day before the next succeeding general election, the unexpired term will be filled during the subsequent general election. The chief election officer shall issue a proclamation of the special election. If the vacancy occurs after the fiftieth day before the next succeeding general election, the governor is required to make an appointment to fill the unexpired term. The appointee will be selected from a list of three prospective candidates submitted by the political party that last held the vacant seat.^[4]

See sources: Hawaii Const. Art. 3, Sec. 5, Hawaii Rev. Stat., §17-3, and Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 17-4

District map

Redistricting

2020-2022

See also: Redistricting in Hawaii after the 2020 census

The Hawaii Reapportionment Commission approved new legislative district maps on January 28, 2022.^[6] The commission's Technical Committee Permitted Interaction Group initially presented the state legislative map plans to the commission for consideration on October 14, 2021. The map plans were approved for public comment on October 28.^[7] On January 6, the commission approved a motion to modify the legislative map plans after learning the initial plans had not properly accounted for the number of nonpermanent resident personnel on military installations in the state, who are not included in legislative redistricting. Under the modified proposal, one legislative district would be moved from Oahu to Hawaii.^[8]^[9] This map took effect for Hawaii's 2022 state legislative elections.

How does redistricting in Hawaii work? In Hawaii, a nine-member commission draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. The majority and minority leaders of the Hawaii State Senate and Hawaii House of Representatives each select two members. These eight members then select a ninth tie-breaking commissioner. If the commission is unable to reach an agreement on a ninth member, the Hawaii Supreme Court must make the appointment.^[10]

Both congressional and state legislative district boundaries must be contiguous and compact. In addition, where possible, district lines "must follow permanent and easily recognized features ... and coincide with census tracts." In addition, "districts must also avoid submerging one area in another with substantially different predominant socioeconomic interests." No district can be drawn "to unduly favor a person or political faction."^[10]

State law permits state legislative districts to be multimember, but a maximum of four representatives can be elected from a single district.^[10]

Hawaii State Senate District 12
until November 7, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Hawaii State Senate District 12
starting November 8, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Hawaii State Senate District 12

Incumbent Sharon Moriwaki and Shotaro Dabbs are running in the general election for Hawaii State Senate District 12 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
		Sharon Moriwaki (D)
		Shotaro Dabbs (R)

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Hawaii State Senate District 12

Incumbent Sharon Moriwaki advanced from the Democratic primary for Hawaii State Senate District 12 on August 10, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sharon Moriwaki	100.0	6,126

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source	Total votes: 6,126
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Hawaii State Senate District 12

Shotaro Dabbs advanced from the Republican primary for Hawaii State Senate District 12 on August 10, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shotaro Dabbs	100.0	1,190

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source	Total votes: 1,190
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.