Gary
Cordery
Republican contractor Gary Cordery is challenging incumbent Gov. Josh Green in Hawaiʻi's 2026 gubernatorial race.
- sources
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- positions
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- endorsements
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Background
Gary Cordery is the 2026 Republican nominee for Governor of Hawaiʻi, challenging incumbent Democratic Governor Josh Green in the November 3, 2026 general election. 456 He is not an incumbent and has not previously held public office; he ran for governor in 2022 but placed third in the Republican primary before winning the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2026. 415
Cordery was born in Colorado and grew up in Auburn, California, near Sacramento. He began working as a construction laborer in 1978, worked on military contracts around the country, and moved to Hawaiʻi in 1981. He later founded Kingdom Builders, a construction company based in Kailua that had 13 employees as of October 2026. 43
His campaign emphasizes pro-Hawaiʻi leadership and positions him as an outsider challenging the state's Democratic political establishment. 417 Campaign materials describe him as a builder, contractor, and business owner. 13
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- Governor, Hawaii
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- General contractor and business owner (Kingdom Builders); Republican nominee for Governor of Hawaiʻi
- Website
- garycorderyforgovernor.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Nov 3filingCordery set to face incumbent Gov. Josh Green in Hawaii general election
Gary Cordery is the Republican candidate facing incumbent Democratic Gov. Josh Green in the November 3, 2026 Hawaii general election.
Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 4pollPrediction market Kalshi placed Cordery's chances of winning at 3% the prior week
Civil Beat reported no publicly available independent poll data on the governor's race, but noted that prediction market Kalshi had put Cordery's probability of winning at 3% the week prior to October 4.
Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 4debateCordery said he had repeatedly invited Gov. Green to a televised debate with no response
Cordery told Civil Beat he had invited Green to a televised debate via news releases, social media, and certified mail. Green had not responded; his spokeswoman said Green would continue speaking directly to voters.
Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 4newsCordery had raised just over $400,000 for the election cycle, far behind Green's $3.7 million
Campaign-finance reports covering August 9 through September 26 showed Cordery raised a little over $400,000 during the cycle, compared to incumbent Gov. Green's more than $3.7 million.
Super PACs Tire Of Spending Big On Candidates As ... · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 4newsCivil Beat profiles Cordery as underdog challenger taking on incumbent Gov. Josh Green
Civil Beat published an in-depth profile of Cordery's campaign, detailing his policy positions on taxes, permitting, government oversight, and emergency response, as well as his co-founding of the Aloha Freedom Coalition.
Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 4controversyControversy over Aloha Freedom Coalition posts suggesting Lahaina wildfire conspiracies
Civil Beat reported Cordery co-founded and formerly directed the Aloha Freedom Coalition, which held pandemic-era protests outside Green's condominium. The coalition later posted material suggesting conspiracies about the Lahaina wildfire. Cordery said, 'I didn't control any of it.'
Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 8filingCordery wins Republican primary with 66.6% of ballots, defeating Ken Fujiyama
Gary Cordery defeated Hilo businessman Ken Fujiyama in the Republican primary, receiving 36,428 votes — about 66.6% of Republican ballots cast and roughly three times Fujiyama's total. Sources: Civil Beat and Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 4, 2026.
Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jan 1, 2025controversySocial-media post attributed to Cordery declared 'You MUST reject all vaccines, PERIOD'
A social-media post from early 2025 stated 'You MUST reject all vaccines, PERIOD.' Cordery told Civil Beat that people who want vaccines have that right, but he opposed government vaccination requirements.
Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Sons Of Yeshua organizationCampaign Facebook page states 'Mahalo to Sons Of Yeshua for their endorsement.' Date not established in available sources. facebook.com
- Local Business Leaders (unnamed) otherCampaign site states 'ENDORSED BY LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS' but does not identify those leaders or give endorsement dates. garycorderyforgovernor.com
- Dr. Danny DeGracia otherEndorsed Cordery at his official filing celebration event. youtube.com · Apr 20, 2026
- Hopie Cresencia otherEndorsed Cordery at his official filing celebration event. youtube.com · Apr 20, 2026
- Ben Tamamoto otherEndorsed Cordery at his official filing celebration event. youtube.com · Apr 20, 2026
Sources 8
- [1] Super PACs Tire Of Spending Big On Candidates As ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [2] Underdog Gov Candidate Takes On The Democratic Machine(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [3] KEY ISSUES & PRIORITIES - Gary Cordery for Governor(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [4] Gary Cordery on Crime(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026
- [5] Candidate Q&A: Governor – Gary Cordery(opens in a new tab) Jul 21, 2026
- [6] Gary Cordery for Governor of Hawaii 2026 Rise up, because your ...(opens in a new tab) May 21, 2026
- [7] Opening Remarks & Endorsements - Gary Cordery Official Filing Celebration - April 15 2026(opens in a new tab) Apr 20, 2026
- [8] Gary Cordery for Governor of Hawaiʻi in the 2026(opens in a new tab) Jan 30, 2026