Hawaii contractor nominated to construct GOP comeback after two-decade Democratic hold on governor's mansion

Gary Cordery, who owns a contracting company, won the Republican nomination for Hawaii governor after defeating business owner Ken Fujiyama in Saturday's primary.

He is now set to face Democratic Gov. Josh Green in November in a race that heavily favors the incumbent. The Cook Political Report rates the contest as Solid Democratic, with a Partisan Voting Index of D+13.

Cordery faces a steep challenge: Hawaii has not had a Republican governor since Linda Lingle left office in 2010.

FORMER...