State Rep. Chris Todd is one step away from winning a fourth term in office after Saturday’s primary election.
Todd has represented parts of Hilo, Panaewa, Keaukaha and Waiakea since 2017. However, after a redistricting in 2020, he is now running for House District 3, which still includes Keaukaha and Waiakea, but also Keaau and Hawaiian Acres.
Todd had a comfortable lead over his sole primary challenger, Shannon Matson, Saturday evening. Todd received 2,286 votes, representing 63% of the total votes for Democratic candidates in the District 3 race.
Matson had 1,344 votes, about 37% of the total.
“Shannon ran a positive and clean campaign,” Todd said Saturday evening. “I’m happy to return to the Legislature ready to work.”
Todd said he intends to work on legislation to assist Big Island farmers, many of whom stand to lose their farms within a decade if their leases of state agricultural land are allowed to expire.
In addition, he said, he hopes to enact policies that will help protect the island’s coastal resources from the impending threat of climate change.
Matson conceded late Saturday, saying she appreciated that Todd ran “a polite and friendly race.”
“I’m definitely not going anywhere,” Matson said. “I’m still going to do all that I can to help my community. There’s still a lot of problems we’re all facing and I’m going to help in any way I can as a community organizer.”
While Todd has yet to win the general election, he’s unlikely to lose. His sole challenger in that race is Aloha Aina Party candidate Devin Shaw McMackin, who received 38 votes Saturday.