HI-SEN DEM PRIMARY 2018: Hirono vs. Gabbard (possible?)

[Confused Democrat]

Do you think Tulsi will break political norms and primary liberal Senator Mazie Hirono in 2018?

If she decides to do so, who wins?

[Heisenberg]

This would probably be Case vs Akaka 2.0, and Hirono would win by about 10.

[Confused Democrat]

This would probably be Case vs Akaka 2.0, and Hirono would win by about 10.

Didn't Case center his campaign around his support the Iraq war? That sounds like the opposite of Gabbard.

[Fusionmunster]

Hirono, but why? It would look exclusively like a power play by Gabbard against a popular incumbent.

[Confused Democrat]

Hirono, but why? It would look exclusively like a power play by Gabbard against a popular incumbent.

I have no clue, it's just that she's listed as a potential challenger on the elections Wikipedia page.

Also Howard Dean brought it up a while back on Hardball.

[Heisenberg]

This would probably be Case vs Akaka 2.0, and Hirono would win by about 10.

Didn't Case center his campaign around his support the Iraq war? That sounds like the opposite of Gabbard.

Don't know much about the HI Dems, but what I meant was the incumbent gets a primary challenge, and there are policy differences and it is kept within single digits, but the incumbent prevails.

[JMT]

I doubt Gabbard runs. She's so young and can afford to wait for Hirono to retire or for an open Governor's race. I actually wouldn't be surprised if Gabbard attempted to run for president in 2020 while still in the House.

But if Gabbard pulled the trigger for a 2018 senate run, I think Hirono wins by about 10 points or so.

[Heisenberg]

I doubt Gabbard runs. She's so young and can afford to wait for Hirono to retire or for an open Governor's race. I actually wouldn't be surprised if Gabbard attempted to run for president in 2020 while still in the House.

But if Gabbard pulled the trigger for a 2018 senate run, I think Hirono wins by about 10 points or so.

Can't see her run for Governor, as her main interests are military/foreign policy, irrelevant for governors. But it could be a stepping stone for president.

[Figueira]

Primary challenges are more normal in Hawaii than elsewhere, but I doubt Gabbard runs.

[Vega]

Hirono isn't exactly some sort of campaigning god and isn't incredibly strong for an incumbent, she has no clout really. I could see Gabbard winning but she would have to avoid being seen as an opportunist.

[PAK Man]

Hawaii's one of those states that likes to keep its incumbents around forever, so a) I doubt Gabbard goes for it and b) if she does, Hirono will probably win without too much of a problem.

[Lief 🗽]

Let's hope Gabbard is stupid enough to do this! It'll end her career, and then she can go start a show on RT regurgitating Kremlin propaganda. Everyone wins!

[henster]

Gabbard would have been much better off if Abercrombie won in 2014.

[Maxwell]

Let's hope Gabbard is stupid enough to do this! It'll end her career, and then she can go start a show on RT regurgitating Kremlin propaganda. Everyone wins!

amen!

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Sh'ed be a great addition to the Senate, but she should focus on building a coalition to take the White House in 2020!

[mds32]

Why is this here? Shouldn't it be in a different thread?

[I’m not Stu]

Do you think Tulsi will break political norms and primary liberal Senator Mazie Hirono in 2018?

If she decides to do so, who wins?

No. If Hirono runs in 2018, Gabbard will not be a primary challenger. Even if Gabbard challenges Hirono, Gabbard loses because Hirono has the advantage of being an incubent. If Hirono is challenged in the primary, all the challengers will be unknowns. If Republican John Carroll runs in 2018, I would support him.