1992 United States Senate election in Hawaii

General election

Candidates

• Daniel Inouye, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic)
• Linda Martin (Green)
• Rick Reed, state senator (Republican)
• Richard O. Rowland (Libertarian)

Sexual assault allegation against Inouye

During the campaign, Lenore Kwock, Inouye's hairdresser, accused him of sexually assaulting her in 1975. She had not originally intended to make the accusation publicly, but was tricked into doing so by an operative from Reed's campaign, who secretly recorded her speaking about the incident after posing as a prospective aide for Inouye.

Inouye denied the accusation, but an opinion poll showed that more than twice as many Hawaii voters believed Kwock over him. Inouye faced no real backlash from the accusation: his vast influence over Hawaii's political establishment meant that "cowardice" and "lack of opportunity" shielded him, according to a political scientist at the University of Hawaii. After Amaral publicly supported Kwock, she was removed from her position on the judiciary committee and lost re-election. Further allegations against Inouye were reported after his death.

Results

References

References

1. (14 December 1992). "Accusations Against Hawaii Senator Meet a Silence in His Seat of Power". The New York Times.
2. Prokop, Kwock. (September 22, 2014). "The senator who told Kirsten Gillibrand “I like my girls chubby” has been identified". [[Vox (website).
3. (November 3, 1992). "General Election - State of Hawaii - Statewide". Hawaii Office of Elections.