HI-02: Jill Tokuda (D)
REPLACING:
Kai Kahele (D)[i]
WORK HISTORY:
Reynolds Recycling (Director of Community Relations); Charitable Ventures, Inc. (President / Founder); National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii (Director of Development); Office of Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Mazie Hirono (Executive Aide); Kalliope LLC (President); Hawaii State Senate (State Senator, District 24)[ii] [iii]
EDUCATION:
Diploma, James B. Castle High School; BA, The George Washington University[iv]
CAMPAIGNED ON:
Access to Quality Health & Mental Health Services; Affordability & Housing; Combating Climate Change & Protecting Our Environment; Education; Election & Campaign Finance Reform; Fighting to Bring Federal Funds Home; Reproductive Rights; Pandemic Preparedness; Public Safety and Gun Reform[v]
ON THE ISSUES
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:
Following the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Tokuda vowed to “defend the reproductive rights of women across our county,” arguing reproductive health choices should be left to women and their doctors. As a Hawaii State Senator, Tokuda touted that she introduced or sponsored several pieces of legislation to foster reproductive freedom and expand access to contraceptives. She has pledged to support the Women’s Health Protection Act, full funding for Title X Family Planning Programs, and to work to repeal the Hyde Amendment.[vi]
ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:
A supporter of unions, Tokuda has said that she supports suspending the gas tax, instituting paid family leave, and addressing pay disparities between genders.[vii] [viii] [ix] [x] In a 2022 candidate questionnaire, Tokuda said she was in favor of continuing monthly enhanced child tax credits, expanding the earned income tax credit, and resuming and expanding the Emergency Rent and Utility Relief program.[xi]
HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:
According to her campaign website, Tokuda supports increasing access to hospitals and healthcare by increasing capacity at rural hospitals and increasing the amount of doctors and healthcare providers in rural communities. She has also called for “look[ing] into” other solutions to healthcare inequity, including mobile health clinics, additional funding for remote counseling, and financial incentives for higher education for health professionals in “underserved areas.”[xii] She has also said she is in favor of “adopting a Medicare for All system” and preserving and expanding Social Security and Medicaid.[xiii]
IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:
Although she infrequently discussed immigration issues and policy on the campaign trail, Tokuda has previously expressed support for DREAMers.[xiv]
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:
During the campaign, Tokuda said she supported overturning the Citizens United decision to limit political spending by corporations and unions. She also said she was in favor of several other campaign finance reforms, including passing the For The People Act and the DISCLOSE Act, which she were “a comprehensive set of anti-corruption, government, voting, and election reforms aimed at improving voting access for individuals and limiting the influence of Big Money in politics, as well as ensuring elected officials are working in the public interest.”[xv]
EDUCATION:
A supporter of universal, free public education from pre-k to community colleges, Tokuda has also advocated for additional funding for training and certification programs to bolster workforce pipelines. She celebrated the Biden administration’s decision to cancel up to $20,000 in student loans for certain borrowers and has called for canceling student debt.[xvi]
CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:
Tokuda has called for “aggressive action” to “address climate change impacts and increase renewable energy production,” noting that Hawaii is “in crisis” due to accelerated sea-level rise and extreme weather. She has advocated for transitioning to clean energy, creating clean energy jobs, and partnering with the Biden administration to promote renewable energy, a reduced carbon footprint, and “climate resiliency.”[xvii]
GUN SAFETY:
A 2022 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate, Tokuda supports several gun control measures, including background checks on all gun sales, an assault weapons and large capacity magazine ban, and red flag laws. She has also expressed support for federally raising the age to purchase a gun to 21 and “addressing the issue” of “ghost guns.”[xviii]
FOREIGN POLICY:
To better compete with China, Tokuda has called for “expand[ing] our diplomatic and development presence in the region” by increasing investments in the Department of State and the US Agency for International Development.[xix]
[i] “Tokuda secures Democratic primary win in race for seat held by U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele,” Hawaii News Now, August 14, 2022, available at https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/08/14/tokuda-branco-square-off-race-congressional-seat-held-by-kahele/.
[ii] Office of Hawaii Senator Jill N. Tokuda, accessed November 2, 2022, available at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=tokuda.
[iii] Jill Tokuda LinkedIn, accessed November 2, 2022, available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-tokuda-26b209173/.
[iv] Jill Tokuda LinkedIn, accessed November 2, 2022, available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-tokuda-26b209173/.
[v] “Jill on the Issues,” Jill Tokuda for Congress, accessed November 2, 2022, available at https://tokudaforhawaii.com/issues/.
[vi] “Jill on the Issues,” Jill Tokuda for Congress, accessed November 2, 2022, available at https://tokudaforhawaii.com/issues/.
[vii] Jill Tokuda Twitter, September 5, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/tokudaforhawaii/status/1566939306371031040.
[viii] Jill Tokuda Twitter, June 18, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/tokudaforhawaii/status/1538049137127608321/.
[ix] Jill Tokuda Facebook, October 28, 2021, available at https://www.facebook.com/TokudaForHawaii/posts/pfbid029L5UsQzd2tcqUCmwPmiSzX7QUgY35mVx85vt9Pi8iQqyJcZmfKrjJpGtbfm286dml.
[x] Jill Tokuda Facebook, April 10, 2018, available at https://www.facebook.com/TokudaForHawaii/posts/pfbid02GbC8Q8tgfTpEdvH7YtjVTcMDVyHBpMuY27H3NSbhwq65LnYt3VKhJGk1cXLPDhhvl.
[xi] “Candidate Q&A: 2nd Congressional District — Jill Tokuda,” Honolulu Civil Beat, September 4, 2022, available at https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/09/candidate-qa-2nd-congressional-district-jill-tokuda/.
[xii] “Jill on the Issues,” Jill Tokuda for Congress, accessed November 2, 2022, available at https://tokudaforhawaii.com/issues/.
[xiii] “Candidate Q&A: 2nd Congressional District — Jill Tokuda,” Honolulu Civil Beat, September 4, 2022, available at https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/09/candidate-qa-2nd-congressional-district-jill-tokuda/.
[xiv] Jill Tokuda Facebook, January 24, 2018, available at https://www.facebook.com/TokudaForHawaii/posts/pfbid02md6vRqWZMZRobsQJ5XWtY19JtpTT7yHcZnH8G1RLLu1iYPSW2U24DwyZhNsYw4Zal.
[xv] “Jill on the Issues,” Jill Tokuda for Congress, accessed November 2, 2022, available at https://tokudaforhawaii.com/issues/.
[xvi] Jill Tokuda Twitter, August 24, 2022, available at https://twitter.com/tokudaforhawaii/status/1562496806696599552.
[xvii] “Jill on the Issues,” Jill Tokuda for Congress, accessed November 2, 2022, available at https://tokudaforhawaii.com/issues/.
[xviii] “Jill on the Issues,” Jill Tokuda for Congress, accessed November 2, 2022, available at https://tokudaforhawaii.com/issues/.
[xix] “Candidate Q&A: 2nd Congressional District — Jill Tokuda,” Honolulu Civil Beat, September 4, 2022, available at https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/09/candidate-qa-2nd-congressional-district-jill-tokuda/.