The Latest: Incumbent US Sen. Schatz wins Hawaii primary

HONOLULU – The Latest on Hawaii’s Senate primary race. (all times local):

7:50 p.m.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has won Hawaii’s Democratic primary.

Schatz faced four Democrats in the race but was largely expected to advance to the general election. Four Republicans also campaigned for the nomination.

Schatz is seeking his first full term after taking an unlikely road to the Senate.

When Sen. Daniel Inouye (ih-NOH’-way) died, it was left to then-Gov. Neil Abercrombie to fill the seat. Inouye’s dying wish was to have U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa take the spot, but Abercrombie instead chose Schatz, his lieutenant governor.

Two years later, Hanabusa challenged Schatz but lost in a special election to fill the last two years of Inouye’s term.

5:30 p.m.

Voters in Honolulu are hitting their polling places Saturday to cast their ballots for races including the U.S. Senate race. Incumbent Sen. Brian Schatz is seeking his first full term in the race.

Joao Santos, 53, a Democrat who has lived in Honolulu for 23 years, was voting at Kawananakoa Middle School and said he has known Schatz for a number of years and feels his re-election is certain. He sees infrastructure and homelessness as major local issues that need to be addressed.

“They are critical issues for our economy,” said Santos, an insurance agent. “Our number one industry, tourism, homelessness is having a big effect on that.”

Maile Chow, 39, a Democrat who also lives in Honolulu and voted at Kawananakoa Middle School, said that she, too, likes Schatz for the Senate.

“I like his young, youthful approach to things and want to see what he can continue to do in the future,” she said.

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8:30 p.m. Friday

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is seeking his first full term in the Senate after being appointed in 2012, and he starts that journey in Saturday’s primary.

Hawaii’s former governor chose Schatz to fill the seat that became vacant with the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye (ih-NOH’-way). And in 2014, Schatz was elected to fill out the remainder of Inouye’s unexpired term.

Schatz faces four Democrats in the primary and is widely expected to advance to the general election. Four Republicans also are campaigning for the nomination.

Schatz serves on the Appropriations, Commerce Science and Transportation and Indian Affairs committees. He also serves on the Select Committee on Ethics.

He has introduced legislation on reducing the effects of climate change and promoting clean energy.