The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi has one qualified candidate, Danielle Bass, to be placed on the ballot for the vacant Senate District 18 seat, held by Sen. Michelle Kidani, whose retirement went into effect on June 30, 2026. The Senate District 18 seat represents Mililani Town, Waipio Gentry, Crestview, Waikele, a portion of Waipahu, Village Park and Royal Kunia.

Pursuant to the DPH Constitution, Article VIII, Section 10, and DPH Bylaws Article IX, Section 4 & 5, and Democratic Party of Hawaiʻiʻs Procedures for Filing Legislative Mid-Term Vacancies, the following candidate has submitted an application and met the requirements to be considered for inclusion on the General Election Ballot in November.

Danielle Bass is a fourth-generation, lifelong Mililani resident, lifelong Democrat, military spouse, and public servant with more than 20 years of experience serving Central Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi. She has built her career delivering results for the communities of Mililani, Waipiʻo Gentry, and Waikele, from serving as a Legislative and Committee Manager in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives, advancing statewide sustainability and resilience initiatives and policies as the State of Hawaiʻi’s Sustainability Coordinator, to chairing the Mililani-Waipiʻo-Melemanu Neighborhood Board, and supporting emergency management and disaster response efforts.

At a meeting to be held on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 at 4 p.m. (via Zoom), the Selection Body, comprised of the district council officers who reside in Senate District 18, will vote to advance a single name to be placed on the General Election ballot in November.

Participation and discussion in the Zoom meeting will be limited to the eligible officers, candidates, and the DPH and O’ahu County support teams. To foster openness and transparency, the meeting will be streamed live on the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi’s Zoom Webinar link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HKTh_g3HT-GH6pDvdosFNw

Once voting is complete, the candidate transmitted to by the selection body will be submitted by the Oʻahu County Chair and State Party Chair to the Hawaiʻi Office of Elections.