Josh Green
Democratic candidate for Governor, Hawaii · Incumbent
Governor of Hawaii; physician
Josh Green is the Democratic Governor of Hawaii. He was first elected in 2022 and is running for a second term. He won the Democratic nomination in the August 8, 2026 primary, and his running mate is Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami. He faces Republican Gary Cordery in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Where Green stands
- Healthcare
- Says he is lowering healthcare costs. In 2026 he signed measures that expand fertility-preservation coverage, subsidize colorectal-cancer screening for uninsured residents, and create a program to buy and forgive eligible medical debt.
- Economy and cost of living
- Supports building Hawaii's economy beyond tourism. He signed 2026 laws expanding film-production tax incentives and creating an Office of Marine Affairs. His campaign also lists middle-class tax relief as a priority.
- Climate and energy
- Says Hawaii should lead in responding to climate change. Proposes decarbonization and climate-mitigation projects paid for by the Green Fee, plus a stronger energy grid.
- Immigration
- Signed six bills in July 2026. They strengthen due-process protections, protect schools and hospitals, limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and expand language access.
- Education
- Signed 2026 measures that set a framework for teacher salary-step increases and expand Hawaii Promise community-college scholarships to cover 95% of unmet direct costs.
- Citizen initiative/referendum
- Says he welcomes discussion of creating an initiative or referendum process and calls for broad public input, but did not explicitly endorse adopting one.
Background
- Governor of Hawaii, 2022–present
- Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, 2018–2022
- Hawaii State Senator, 2008–2018
- Physician
- B.A., Swarthmore College (1992)
- M.D., Penn State College of Medicine (1997)
In the news
- Green aide files police report after scuffle with Cordery supporter Hawaii News Now, October 21, 2026
- GOP gubernatorial ticket targets government waste, vaccine mandates Hawaii News Now, October 21, 2026
- Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine — Again Honolulu Civil Beat, October 4, 2026
Also running for Governor
- Gary Cordery Republican
Sources
- Smarter.Vote – Josh Green candidate profile (fetched)
- Smarter.Vote – 2026 Hawaii Governor race (fetched)
- Wikipedia – 2026 Hawaii gubernatorial election
- Honolulu Civil Beat – Cordery profile (fetched)
Last researched October 23, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.
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