Despite being the most powerful Democrat in the state, he was defeated by her.

In Hawaii, transgender woman Kim Coco Iwamoto (D), a former member of both the Hawai’i Civil Rights Commission and the Hawai’i Board of Education, has just made history. She defeated the incumbent in her district’s Democratic primary, becoming the first transgender person elected to the legislature. Iwamoto unseated state House Speaker Scott Saiki, who had held the position for three decades, winning by a margin of about 5%. Iwamoto received 49.3% of the votes, while Saiki garnered 44.6%.

“It feels incredible, especially knowing that so many powerful figures endorsed him,” said Iwamoto. “I wasn’t just running against him; I was up against the entire Democratic establishment.”

Kim Coco Iwamoto has a distinguished career as an attorney and has been elected twice to the Hawai’i Board of Education. In the mid-2010s, she was appointed as a commissioner to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. Despite previous unsuccessful runs for office, including a bid for lieutenant governor in 2018 and two challenges for Saiki’s seat, Iwamoto has remained a prominent figure in progressive politics.

Recognized by former President Barack Obama for her work, Iwamoto is a strong advocate for progressive causes. She aligns with groups that share the politics of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), supporting initiatives like the Green New Deal, increasing funding for public education, mass reform of the criminal justice system, and investment in affordable housing.

Iwamoto is also a staunch supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. Her campaign website outlines her commitment to prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender expression, and identity. She advocates for fully funding enforcement divisions at state agencies to ensure compliance with non-discrimination laws. Additionally, she believes that every unaccompanied minor deserves a safe home, including LGBTIQ+ minors in foster and group homes.

In contrast, Saiki has let his long record of public service define his policy stance. His contributions include helping to pass a ban on conversion therapy, supporting Title IX protections in the state, fighting financial inequality between men and women, and allocating millions to combat homelessness. Saiki has served as the speaker of the House since 2017.