Hawaii's Republican Party has picked a candidate to fight for an open State Senate seat, setting up a party contest in a normally Democratic-leaning state.

• The GOP named Kelly Kitashima to run for the District 18 seat covering Mililani, Waipahu, and Waipio.
• The seat opened up after Senator Michelle Kidani retired in June.
• Kitashima will appear on the November general election ballot; she previously ran for City Council in 2018.
• Governor Josh Green just appointed Democrat Danielle Bass to hold the seat until the election, giving her an incumbent edge.

Outlook: Kitashima and Bass are set to face off in November for the full-term seat.