Council member Yuki Lei Sugimura holds a significant fundraising and cash-on-hand advantage over incumbent Mayor Richard Bissen with the primary election weeks away. Sugimura has drawn notable financial support from real estate and vacation rental industry interests, partly linked to her opposition to Bissen’s Bill 9 STR phase-out plan.
- Sugimura has raised approximately $335,000 overall versus Bissen’s $293,000, and holds $114,240 cash on hand compared to his $69,654.
- Sugimura received contributions from real estate companies, luxury developers, the Hawaii Realtors PAC, and an Airbnb-funded group — largely tied to her opposition to Bill 9.
- Bill 9, Bissen’s signature legislation, would phase out thousands of Maui short-term vacation rentals to create more long-term housing.
- Bissen’s support comes from local labor unions, administration members, and individuals connected to post-wildfire recovery efforts.
- The top two finishers in the Aug. 8 primary advance to the November 3 general election; mail-in ballots go out next week.
Source: Civil Beat
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