Bill that Could Ban Trump From Hawaii Ballot Passes First Test

By Daryl Huff

Published: Feb. 6, 2024 at 4:15 PM HST|

Updated: Feb. 6, 2024 at 4:31 PM HST

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A proposal that would allow Donald Trump to be disqualified from the Hawaii ballot for causing an insurrection survived a close vote in a state Senate committee Tuesday.

While other states have tried to block Trump because of his role in sparking the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol. Hawaii law doesn’t provide for that.

The measure, Senate Bill 2392, would establish a process through the chief elections officer.

The bill drew more than 300 pieces of negative testimony and only about 20 testimonies in favor. The small conference room was dominated by Trump supporters, who often cheered each other’s testimony.

Among the first to testify was Jamie Detwiler, who identified herself as the president of the Hawaii Federation of Republican Women.

“This is tyrannical, to say the least,” she said.

“He has not been convicted nor has he been charged with insurrection (cheers) there is no evidence of committing insurrection so please don’t waste our time on this poorly written piece of legislation.”

Rhoads later tried to engage with Detw

The bill was supported by Democratic Party and Open government groups, Nikos Leverenz thanked Rhoads for what he called his courage in offering the bill, enduring jeers from the mostly pro-Trump audience.

“It seems like a lot of people her are fine with stochastic terrorism, which we saw on January 6th,” he said.

The Judiciary Committee amended the bill to make the process for removal for insurrection similar to Hawaii’s election challenge and ballot eligibility procedures.

The committee voted 3-to-2 to send the bill to the full Senate. State Sen. Mike Gabbard, whose daughter ran for president as a Democrat, and Republican Brenton Awa opposed the bill.