The National Republican Senatorial Committee in May dispatched a GOP insider to Hawaii in hopes of making the Senate race there more competitive, Politico reports.
The NRSC sent western regional political director Sarah Morgan, who in 2012 managed the campaign of Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., to head up a “campaign school” designed to teach potential candidates the ropes and to meet with GOP leaders in the Aloha State.
A recent filing with the Federal Election Commission shows that the NRSC spent $847.16 at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and $302.84 for a rental car on the island.
The committee said Morgan, whose mission it was to build coalitions, do outreach and work with the state’s young GOP chairman to build an infrastructure for the midterm elections, was in Hawaii May 16-17.
The GOP sees the upcoming Democratic primary between first time Sen. Brian Schatz, who in December was appointed to replace the late Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye, and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa as an opportunity to make inroads into Hawaii’s political landscape.
Schatz has the backing of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Al Gore, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and 24 public employee unions; Hanabusa is supported by Irene Inouye, the late senator’s wife, and EMILY’s List.
“One of the biggest secrets of the 2014 cycle is that the ugliest primary battle in America is a Democratic one in Barack Obama’s home state,” said NRSC spokesman Brad Dayspring.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.