DeCorte Named Hawaii Senate Minority Leader After Awa Departs GOP
The Republican caucus in the 25-seat chamber has shrunk to two members following the election of Bob McDermott and the exit of Sen. Brenton Awa.
By Amit Chukwu ·
Sen. Samantha DeCorte has taken the helm of the state Senate Republican minority following the departure of Sen. Brenton Awa from the party. The leadership change leaves the GOP with just two members in the 25-seat chamber, a dramatic contraction in its legislative presence.
The new caucus consists of DeCorte and Sen. Bob McDermott, who won election Tuesday to represent ʻEwa Beach. McDermott stated that he and DeCorte agreed on the leadership arrangement without conflict. He described his role as supporting DeCorte, whom he called his "sidekick," to help her lead effectively.
"There's no arguing, there's no acrimony. This isn't baloney. I'm too old for that," McDermott said regarding the transition. DeCorte, who has served in the Senate for two years, did not immediately return a request for comment. She was first elected in 2022 to represent the Ko ʻOlina and Waiʻanae district.
McDermott brings more than a decade of legislative experience from the state House, where he previously represented the Salt Lake area before moving to ʻEwa Beach. His election helps stabilize the two-person caucus, though the group remains a small bloc in the full Senate.
Awa announced on election night that he was considering leaving the Republican Party. He cited voter reluctance to support candidates with an "R" next to their name in Hawaii. Awa said his efforts to align the party with local values and advocate for the underprivileged did not translate into increased vote share for the GOP.
The independent senator indicated he may run for Honolulu mayor. That office is non-partisan, meaning candidates do not declare a party affiliation on the ballot. Awa’s move leaves the Republican leadership in a precarious position with only two voting members in the upper chamber.
