Bennette E. Misalucha (16)

Bennette Espineli Misalucha is a Democratic politician who served as a member of the Hawaii State Senate for District 16 from 2020 to 2022. District 16 includes areas such as Pearl City, Aiea, Halawa Heights, Waimalu, Kalauao, Waiau, Pacific Palisades, and Pearl Harbor. She was appointed to the seat following the death of incumbent Senator Breene Harimoto and won a special election in 2020 with 52.7% of the vote against Republican Kelly Puamailani Kitashima, but lost the 2022 Democratic primary to Brandon Elefante. Notable achievements include supporting legislation to raise the minimum wage and make the state earned income tax credit permanent and refundable.

Education and Political Experience

Limited details are available on her formal education from public records. Her political experience includes her appointment by Governor David Ige to the Hawaii Senate in 2020, winning the subsequent special election, and serving one term until 2022. She ran as the Democratic incumbent in the 2022 primary for District 16.