- State
- Hawaii
- Office / race
- Governor
- Party
- Democratic
- Reviewed
- October 24, 2026
Career timeline
An incumbent seeking reelection
Josh Green is the Democratic candidate for Hawaii governor in the November 3, 2026 general election, running with Derek Kawakami. Republican Gary Cordery and Daniel Anthony form the opposing ticket. The running-mate distinction is important in a year when the state’s lieutenant-governor office has also attracted separate news coverage: the election ticket should be read from the current ballot listing.
Sources: Hawaii general-election candidates ↗
Medicine before politics
Raised in Pittsburgh, Green studied biology and anthropology at Swarthmore College and earned his medical degree at Penn State. His official biography describes family-practice residency and service through the National Health Service Corps in Ka‘ū on Hawaii Island. Work in underserved communities gave him direct experience with healthcare access, a subject that remains central to his public identity and political priorities.
Sources: Official governor biography ↗
A long route through state office
Green served in Hawaii’s House from 2004 to 2008 and its Senate from 2008 to 2018 before becoming lieutenant governor. He became governor in December 2022. His official account highlights legislation on child health insurance, autism coverage and tobacco policy. That progression means voters are assessing a career across multiple state offices, not only his recent term as chief executive.
Sources: Official governor biography ↗
Continuing a medical connection
The Western Governors’ Association’s biography describes Green continuing emergency-room work while serving in public office and returning to Hawaii Island to practice. It records recognition from the Hawaii Medical Association in 2009 and 2022. This is a useful professional detail because his medical identity is grounded in clinical work as well as the healthcare subjects he addresses in speeches and campaigns.
Housing at the center of his campaign
In Civil Beat’s candidate questionnaire, Green placed housing supply, homelessness and the cost of living at the center of his reelection case. He defended using emergency proclamations to remove obstacles to construction while saying environmental protections should remain. His account of a development pipeline should be distinguished from completed homes: projects at different stages do not yet provide the same immediate relief.
Sources: Civil Beat candidate questionnaire ↗
How he describes working with Washington
Green told Civil Beat he would cooperate with federal officials when doing so benefits Hawaii and oppose actions he believes threaten residents or state priorities. He connected that approach to Maui recovery, grid investment and energy costs. The answer frames intergovernmental relations as a practical part of governing, while leaving voters to judge how successfully those aims have translated into delivery.
Sources: Civil Beat candidate questionnaire ↗
Prepared with AI assistance. Source-based reporting checked on October 24, 2026. This article does not update automatically. Read our editorial standards.
