HONOLULU — The former mayor of Honolulu has pulled out of the race for Hawaii governor.
Kirk Caldwell announced in a statement Wednesday that he is ending his campaign for governor in the upcoming Democratic primary election. Caldwell served as Honolulu mayor for two terms, leaving office in 2021.
Lack of funding was a top reason for ending his campaign, he said.
“Raising money for this campaign has been difficult, and it is now clear that the lack of funding will seriously affect operations and the ability to continue grass roots, public events, and communicate effectively going forward,” Caldwell said.
“This is not my time,” Caldwell added. “I am proud of all that we accomplished, including the last year in 2020 which focused almost entirely on the Covid pandemic.”
Caldwell said he has had to make “hard decisions” on controversial topics.
“Working in the public arena means building a track record, but it also means putting yourself at risk of losing popularity and overexposure,” he said.
The Democratic primary now includes Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green and former Hawaii first lady Vicky Cayetano.