Tide Turns for GOP Candidate in Hawaii

Bickering Between Democrats in a Special Congressional Race Might Give First Republican in Decades a Chance at Victory

HONOLULU—One of the important elements of Hawaiian culture is ohana, which means family. But two Democratic candidates running in a May special congressional race here aren't feeling like ohana right now, giving island Republicans a chance to win in this longtime Democratic stronghold.

The Aloha State has an unusual special-election structure in which the candidate with the most votes wins without a primary or runoff. The two bickering Democrats in the race—former Congressman Ed Case and Hawaii state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa—might split the vote and give a Republican a rare shot at victory in this state. If GOP candidate ..