Recount confirms incumbent Hawaii lawmaker beats challenger by 1 vote

A recount of two close legislative races has validated the razor-thin margins of two West Oahu Republican primary results that were so close to trigger automatic recounts.

Tuesday’s recall at the state Capitol confirmed that incumbent state Rep. Kanani Souza (R, Kapolei-Makakilo) beat her Republican challenger, Sheila Medeiros, by just one vote, 841 to 840.

And former legislator Bob McDermott unseated incumbent state Sen. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach-Ocean Pointe-Iroquois Point) by seven votes, 1,211 to 1,204.

But the final results for all of Saturday’s primary races are expected to be released Friday.

If they stay the same for Souza’s District 43 House seat, she will automatically return to the Legislature because she faces no opposition in the Nov. 3 General Election.

If McDermott’s recount results hold up for the District 20 Senate seat, he will face Democrat Markus Owens, a former University of Hawaii baseball player.

In the primary election, McDermott received 1,211 Republican votes, while Owens drew 3,707 Democratic votes.