Governor of Hawaii · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Hawaii governor's race?
Josh Green has the strongest record in the Hawaii governor's race. Josh Green scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Josh Green's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Gary Cordery (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Gary Cordery
Running mate: Daniel Anthony
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Josh Green
Running mate: Derek Kawakami
68 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 85
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Gary Cordery
- On the record2023-02-22
His December 2022 suit over the timing of the governor's and lieutenant governor's inaugurations was dismissed; the court noted it did not challenge any election results.
Source: Hawaii Supreme Court, SCEC-22-0000734, Feb. 22, 2023
- On the record2022-08-29
Filed, with 30 voters, an election contest asking the Hawaii Supreme Court to nullify the 2022 primary results and halt certification over ballot design; the court dismissed it for failure to state a claim.
Source: Hawaii Supreme Court, SCEC-22-0000504, Aug. 29, 2022
- On the record2021
Co-founded and directed the Aloha Freedom Coalition, which staged pandemic-era protests including outside then-Lt. Gov. Green's condominium; he remains on its board.
Josh Green
- On the record2026-10-04
Had not responded to Republican Gary Cordery's repeated invitations to a televised debate; his campaign said he would speak to voters through other outlets.
- On the record2025-07-03
Vetoed eight bills passed by the Democratic-led Legislature in 2025; the House declined to call a special session to override.
Source: Maui Now, July 4, 2025
- On the record2016-05-26
As a state senator, paid a $300 administrative fine and amended his financial disclosure in an agreement with the state Ethics Commission; he called it a clerical error.
- Credit2024-06-03
Signed Act 46 of 2024, which HPR described as the largest income tax cut in state history.
- Credit2024-08-02
Announced a $4 billion global settlement of Maui wildfire claims among seven defendants, including the state, covering roughly 2,200 parties who had sued.
Source: Hawaii News Now, Aug. 2, 2024
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Gary Cordery. Campaign contribution reports for the 2022 to 2026 period are on file with the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission. No ethics or campaign finance finding found.
Source: Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission open data, contributions received
Josh Green. Campaign contribution reports for the 2022 to 2026 period are on file with the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission. No ethics or campaign finance finding against him in the last 10 years found.
Source: Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission open data, contributions received
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Gary Cordery. No public record found.
Josh Green. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Gary Cordery. Has publicly challenged the governor to a televised debate and holds public meet-and-greets across the islands.
Sources: Big Island Now, Sept. 1, 2026, Campaign site, events
Josh Green. Had not responded to his Republican opponent's repeated invitations to a televised general election debate as of Oct. 4, 2026; his campaign did not say whether he would debate.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Gary Cordery. No public record found.
Josh Green. Physician, then 14 years in the Legislature, four years as lieutenant governor and governor since December 2022. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Gary Cordery. No public record found.
Josh Green. Has held sworn state office since 2004, as legislator, lieutenant governor and governor. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Gary Cordery. General contractor who founded Kingdom Builders, a 13-employee construction company, after moving to Hawaii in 1981; co-founded the Aloha Freedom Coalition. Has not held public office.
Josh Green. Governor since December 2022, lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022 and a state legislator from 2004 to 2018.
Sources: Honolulu Civil Beat, Oct. 4, 2026, Wikipedia, Josh Green
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Gary Cordery. Publishes specific proposals, including 15,000 fee simple homes on state land priced at $400,000 to $600,000 and ending the general excise tax on food and medicine. His property tax freeze needs county action, which he acknowledged.
Sources: Honolulu Civil Beat, Candidate Q&A, Honolulu Civil Beat, Oct. 4, 2026
Josh Green. Sitting governor. States specific plans in office: a housing emergency proclamation to cut regulations, expanding kauhale villages for homeless residents, and protecting the phased income tax cut.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Gary Cordery. Answered Civil Beat's 2026 survey, publishes issue pages and holds public meet-and-greets, including by Zoom. Completed Ballotpedia's survey in 2022 but not in 2026.
Sources: Honolulu Civil Beat, Candidate Q&A, Campaign site, Ballotpedia, Gary Cordery
Josh Green. Answered Civil Beat's 2026 primary survey. His campaign says he speaks to voters through media and in person; no 2026 debate or Ballotpedia survey found.
Sources: Honolulu Civil Beat, Candidate Q&A, Honolulu Civil Beat, Oct. 4, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Gary Cordery. Moved to Hawaii in 1981 and has built his business there. About 98 percent of contributions reported for 2022 to 2026 came from Hawaii.
Sources: Honolulu Civil Beat, Oct. 4, 2026, Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission open data, contributions received
Josh Green. Has lived and practiced medicine in Hawaii since 2000 and represented Big Island districts in the Legislature. About 67 percent of contributions reported for 2022 to 2026 came from Hawaii.
Sources: Wikipedia, Josh Green, Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission open data, contributions received
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Gary Cordery. Runs Kingdom Builders, a construction company with 13 employees. Campaign Spending Commission reports on file; no fine found.
Josh Green. Has headed the state executive branch since December 2022 and acted on all 320 bills of the 2025 session within the statutory period.
Sources: Maui Now, July 4, 2025, Honolulu Civil Beat, Oct. 4, 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Gary Cordery. No public record found.
Josh Green. Signed the 2024 income tax cut that HPR called the largest in state history, and announced a $4 billion global settlement of Maui wildfire claims in August 2024.
Sources: Hawaii Public Radio, June 3, 2024, Hawaii News Now, Aug. 2, 2024
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Gary Cordery. No public record found.
Josh Green. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Gary Cordery. No public record found.
Josh Green. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Gary Cordery. No public record found.
Josh Green. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Gary Cordery. No public record found.
Josh Green. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Hawaii governor's race?
Josh Green has the strongest record in the Hawaii governor's race. Josh Green scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Josh Green's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Gary Cordery (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Hawaii governor's race in 2026?
Gary Cordery (Republican), Josh Green (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Gary Cordery a good candidate for Governor?
Gary Cordery has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Josh Green a good candidate for Governor?
Josh Green scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 85 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Hawaii race scored, and the Hawaii 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.