Ronald Kouchi
2012 - Present
2026
12
Ronald Kouchi (Democratic Party) is a member of the Hawaii State Senate, representing District 8. He assumed office on November 6, 2012. His current term ends on November 3, 2026.
Kouchi (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Hawaii State Senate to represent District 8. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Kouchi currently serves as President of the Hawaii State Senate, a position he has held since 2015.[1]
Kouchi was born in Los Angeles, California.[2] He attended Drake University.[3] He originally wanted to be a teacher, but he decided to enter politics, beginning by working on the campaign for Kauai Mayor Eduardo Malapit (D).[4] He also served as a legislative analyst for state Rep. Dennis Yamada (D).[5]
In 1983, Kouchi ran for a seat on the Kauai County Council.[4] He won and remained on the council for 22 years, including 12 years as the council's chair.[6] Kouchi worked as director of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative and the Kauai Visitors Bureau, and was also a registered lobbyist.[7] In 2002, he ran for mayor of Kauai but was defeated by Bryan Baptiste (R).[5]
On September 7, 2010, Gov. Linda Lingle (R) appointed Kouchi to the state Senate for District 7 after incumbent Gary Hooser (D) resigned to run for lieutenant governor.[8][9] He was elected to a full term in November's general election. During his tenure in the Senate, Kouchi served as the Senate's majority caucus leader from 2011 to 2012 and as its vice president from 2013 to 2014.[10]
In 2015, Kouchi was elected state Senate president, ousting incumbent Donna Mercado Kim (D) by a 19-6 vote.[1] Upon his election, Kouchi said, "I’m not here to say I’m better, I’m worse, I’ve been asked to lead in a different way, and we’ll see if that works better than the one that has."[10] Honolulu Civil-Beat's Nathan Eagle wrote, "Kouchi operates behind the scenes, an expert dealmaker focused more on getting things done than grabbing headlines, according to lawmakers and others who have worked closely with him."[11] In 2023, Kouchi was elected president of the Senate Presidents Forum, a nationwide group composed of state senate presidents.[12]
During the opening of the 2025 legislative session, Kouchi focused on housing, saying, "We need to get through the permitting process and build the units faster because this housing affects everything we're trying to do in this economy, everything in what we're trying to do in creating a better life for all of us."[13] At the request of Gov. Joshua Green (D), Kouchi introduced a bill in 2025 to amend state laws to meet recommendations from a state report on wildfire prevention.[14]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Kouchi served on the following committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Transportation |
| • Ways and Means, Vice chair |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Kouchi served on the following committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Vice Chair |
| • Transportation and International Affairs |
| • Ways and Means |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Kouchi served on these committees:
| Hawaii committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Tourism, Vice Chair |
| • Agriculture |
| • Transportation and International Affairs |
| • Ways and Means |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: Hawaii State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Hawaii State Senate District 8
Incumbent Ronald Kouchi defeated Ana Mo Des and Kapana Thronas-Kaho'Onei in the general election for Hawaii State Senate District 8 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ronald Kouchi (D) | 71.4 | 16,234 | |
| Ana Mo Des (R) | 23.2 | 5,266 | ||
| Kapana Thronas-Kaho'Onei (Aloha Aina Party) | 5.4 | 1,235 | ||
| Total votes: 22,735 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Hawaii State Senate District 8
Incumbent Ronald Kouchi advanced from the Democratic primary for Hawaii State Senate District 8 on August 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ronald Kouchi | 100.0 | 10,466 | |
| Total votes: 10,466 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Hawaii State Senate District 8
Ana Mo Des advanced from the Republican primary for Hawaii State Senate District 8 on August 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ana Mo Des | 100.0 | 2,159 | |
| Total votes: 2,159 | ||||
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Aloha Aina Party primary election
Aloha Aina Party primary for Hawaii State Senate District 8
Kapana Thronas-Kaho'Onei advanced from the Aloha Aina Party primary for Hawaii State Senate District 8 on August 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kapana Thronas-Kaho'Onei | 100.0 | 115 | |
| Total votes: 115 | ||||
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2020
See also: Hawaii State Senate elections, 2020
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Hawaii State Senate District 8
Incumbent Ronald Kouchi won election outright in the Democratic primary for Hawaii State Senate District 8 on August 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ronald Kouchi | 100.0 | 12,900 | |
| Total votes: 12,900 | ||||
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2016
- See also: Hawaii State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Hawaii State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.
Incumbent Ronald Kouchi ran unopposed in the Hawaii State Senate District 8 general election.[15]
| Hawaii State Senate, District 8 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Ronald Kouchi Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: State of Hawaii - Office of Elections | ||
Incumbent Ronald Kouchi defeated Kanoe Ahuna in the Hawaii State Senate District 8 Democratic primary.[16][17]
| Hawaii State Senate, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Ronald Kouchi Incumbent |
63.51% | 7,817 | |
| Democratic | Kanoe Ahuna | 36.49% | 4,492 | |
| Total Votes | 12,309 | |||
2012
- See also: Hawaii State Senate elections, 2012
Kouchi won re-election in the 2012 election for Hawaii State Senate District 8. Kouchi ran unopposed in the August 11 Democratic primary and defeated William Georgi (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[18][19][20]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ronald Kouchi Incumbent |
77.7% | 17,887 | |
| Republican | William Georgi | 22.3% | 5,138 | |
| Total Votes | 23,025 | |||
2010
- See also: Hawaii State Senate elections, 2010
Kouchi defeated John Sydney Yamane in the September 18 primary. He defeated Republican candidate David Hamman and Nonpartisan candidate Alfred Darling in the general election on November 2, 2010.[21]
| Hawaii State Senate, District 7 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Ronald Kouchi (D)
|
14,438 | 62.7% | ||
| David Hamman (R) | 6,245 | 27.1% | ||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ronald Kouchi did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Ronald Kouchi did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2012
Kouchi's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[22]
- "Ron is a fiscal conservative who works for cost-effective approaches to government services.
- He advocates 'smart growth' principles, which provide for sound planning and economic advancement while protecting our environment.
- He has been active in support of affordable housing solutions.
- He wants to see a new landfill for Kaua'i sited and to support better recycling programs.
- He will work for better parks and recreational programs."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Hawaii scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
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In 2024, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 17 to May 3. |
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 18 to May 4. |
2022
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In 2022, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 19 to May 5. |
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 20 to April 29.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 15 to July 10.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 16 through May 2.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 17 through May 3.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 18 through May 4. The Legislature held a special session from July 12 from July 20. The legislature held its first special session from August 28 to September 1. The legislature held its second special session from September 25 to September 26. The legislature held its third special session on November 14.
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2016
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In 2016, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 20 through May 5. The Legislature held a special session from July 12 from July 20.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 21 through May 7.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 15 through May 2.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Hawaii State Legislature was in session from January 16 to May 3.
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See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Hawaii State Senate District 8 |
Officeholder Hawaii State Senate District 8 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hawaii News Now, "Sen. Ron Kouchi elected new Senate President after 19-6 vote," May 5, 2015
- ↑ Honolulu Star-Advertiser, "District 08 – Ronald Dan Kouchi (D)," July 31, 2016
- ↑ Ronald Kouchi 2010 campaign website, "Candidate Biography," accessed March 9, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Honolulu Civil-Beat, "Lee Cataluna: The Senate President Is Serving Comfort Food With Political Instincts," February 2, 2022
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Midweek Kauai, "Cookin’ in the Senate," February 22, 2012
- ↑ Ron Kouchi's website, "Meet Ron Kouchi," accessed March 9, 2025
- ↑ University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, "Background on the Candidates," January 9, 2013
- ↑ The Hawaii Independent, "Lingle fills two vacant State Senate seats," September 7, 2010
- ↑ Hawaii News Now, "Schatz wins Democratic lieutenant governor's race," September 18, 2010
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Honolulu Star-Advertiser "Kauai’s Kouchi replaces Kim as Senate president," May 5, 2015
- ↑ Honolulu Civil-Beat, "With Kouchi as the New Dealer, Senate Still Shuffling Its Cards," May 15, 2015
- ↑ Spectrum Local News, "Kouchi elected chair of the Senate Presidents Forum," November 17, 2023
- ↑ Hawaii Public Radio, "On the 2025 legislative agenda: stabilize property insurance and cost of living," January 16, 2025
- ↑ Maui Now, "Wildfire prevention reforms called for in bills introduced at state Legislature," January 25, 2025
- ↑ State of Hawaii, "General Election 2016 - State of Hawaii – Statewide November 8, 2016," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ State of Hawaii, "2016 Candidate Report," accessed June 10, 2016
- ↑ Hawaii.gov, "Primary Election results," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ civilbeat.com, " Unofficial 2012 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General election results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed December 13, 2013
- ↑ Ron Kouchi for Senate, "Issues," accessed September 16, 2012
- ↑ Paychecks Hawaii, "PAYCHECKS HAWAII Ratings of the 2013 Hawaii State Legislature," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Paychecks Hawaii, "PAYCHECKS HAWAII Ratings of the 2013 Hawaii State Legislature," accessed July 11, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Hawaii State Senate District 8 2012-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Gary Hooser (D) |
Hawaii State Senate District 7 2010-2012 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Kaua'i County Council |
Succeeded by - |
