Josh Green (Democrat) and Gary Cordery (Republican) are the candidates for governor of Hawaii in the November 3, 2026 general election. Josh Green is the incumbent. Semblen has analyzed 14 ads in this race; 7 used at least one manipulation technique, most often glittering generalities and false urgency.
Josh Green (DEM, incumbent), Gary Cordery (REP). On the ballot as listed by Hawaii Office of Elections, 2026 General Election Voter Guide. 14 ads analyzed, 7 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-10-08.
As of 2026-10-08. Counts are of distinct ads; the same text run many times is one ad.
A small box with these findings and the newest ads, updated as new ads are analyzed. Free for newsrooms, blogs and campaigns alike; it links back here.
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| Paid for by | Ads | With at least one technique | Most common |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Green for Hawaii | 11 | 4 of 11 (36%) | Glittering Generalities (4), Repetition (2), Card Stacking (1) |
| Gary Cordery for Governor | 2 | 2 of 2 | Appeal to Prejudice (1), Conspiracy Appeal (1), False Urgency (1) |
| HIRA News - Hawaii Republican Action | 1 | 1 of 1 | Appeal to Fear (1), Bandwagon Appeal (1), Conspiracy Appeal (1) |
Not everyone would call every technique manipulation. Untick the ones you'd call ordinary persuasion and the count updates.
50% of the 14 ads here use at least one of the techniques ticked below (7 ads).
Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 36% of ads.
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Candidates for governor report their fundraising to Hawaii's state campaign-finance office, not the FEC. This page doesn't cover those reports yet, so it shows no money figures.
14 ads, newest first.
Showing the 11 ads paid for by Josh Green for Hawaii. Show all 14 ads
Governor Josh Green is making the largest investment in reducing homelessness in Hawaii state history — including building 30 kauhale villages to reduce homelessness statewide. These tiny home communities are getting people off the street permanently and helping them turn their lives around.
Making Hawaii more affordable is Governor Josh Green’s top priority — that’s why he’s building new housing at a scale we haven’t seen in decades, and making investments in healthcare and energy that will bring down costs for everyone. And there’s still more work to do.
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An email when new ads come in from either side or the outside groups: the techniques, the words doing the work, and who paid. And each debate's analysis the morning after. One-click unsubscribe.
Semblen LLC · 5900 Balcones Drive STE 100, Austin, TX 78731
Governor Josh Green provides steady leadership in a crisis — from the COVID pandemic, through the Maui wildfires, to the recent floods, Josh provides the leadership we need. When Hawaii faces an emergency, Governor Green delivers billions in federal aid and brings people together.
Repetition: The word 'leadership' is repeated twice within a single sentence to reinforce the positive association through familiarity — for example: 'provides steady leadership' and 'Josh provides the leadership we need'
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'the leadership we need' is vague and emotionally positive, invoking a sense of necessity and virtue without specifying any concrete actions or policies — for example: the leadership we need and brings people together.
Card Stacking: The sentence presents only positive outcomes ('delivers billions in federal aid', 'brings people together') without any counterbalancing information about challenges, failures, or criticisms, selectively framing the governor's record — for example: 'delivers billions in federal aid and brings people together'
Governor Josh Green is making Hawaii more affordable by building new housing in our state at a scale not seen in decades — including 46,000 affordable units — which will help bring down the cost of housing for everyone. And there’s still more work to do.
Governor Josh Green’s top priority is making Hawaii more affordable — that’s why he’s lowering healthcare costs by covering Obamacare subsidies for families who count on them, and bringing nearly $1 billion more for rural healthcare in the coming years. And there’s still more work to do.
Governor Josh Green is building new housing at a scale we haven’t seen in decades — including 46,000 affordable units for working families. He’s also bringing down costs by cutting red tape and lifting unnecessary regulations on new housing, while still protecting our environment.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: The claim 'at a scale we haven't seen in decades' is an extreme superlative framing that may overstate the achievement without supporting evidence — for example: scale we haven't seen in decades
Glittering Generalities: Vague positive phrases like 'cutting red tape' and 'protecting our environment' invoke broadly appealing values without specific substantive detail — for example: protecting our environment
Governor Josh Green has made the largest investment in reducing homelessness in Hawaii state history — by building dozens of kauhale villages statewide to help people get off the streets permanently. And there’s still more work to do.
Governor Josh Green provides steady leadership in a crisis — from the pandemic, through the Maui fires, to the floods on Oahu, when we need it most, Governor Josh Green delivers billions in aid, brings people together, and helps communities heal.
Glittering Generalities: The sentence uses vague, emotionally positive phrases like 'steady leadership,' 'brings people together,' and 'helps communities heal' that sound noble but lack specific substantive meaning — for example: 'brings people together, and helps communities heal'
Repetition: The name 'Governor Josh Green' is repeated twice within a single sentence to reinforce name recognition and association with positive qualities — for example: "Governor Josh Green provides steady leadership", "Governor Josh Green delivers billions in aid".
Making Hawaii more affordable is Governor Josh Green’s top priority — that’s why he’s building new housing at a scale not seen in decades, and making investments in healthcare and energy that will bring down costs for everyone. And there’s still more work to do.
Governor Josh Green cares about people — he gets things done, and he does what’s best for Hawaii. From building affordable housing, to reducing homelessness, to providing healthcare, Josh puts people first. But there’s still more work to do — so let’s finish the job.
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive claims about caring for people and doing what's best without any specific evidence or substance — for example: cares about people, does what's best for Hawaii and Josh puts people first.
False Urgency: The phrase 'let's finish the job' implies an artificial call to action and time pressure to continue support without deliberation — for example: 'so let's finish the job'
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